♦ The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) for eight capital acquisition proposals worth over Rs.54,000 crore.

♦ The approvals, aimed at strengthening the Indian Armed Forces, include key procurements for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

♦ For the Indian Army, the DAC approved the procurement of 1,350 HP engines to upgrade the existing 1,000 HP engines in T-90 tanks.

♦ This enhancement is expected to improve battlefield mobility, particularly in high-altitude areas, by increasing the tanks’ power-to-weight ratio.

♦ For the Indian Navy, the council sanctioned the procurement of Varunastra torpedoes, an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-submarine weapon.

♦ Designed by the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory, these torpedoes will strengthen the Navy’s capabilities in countering submarine threats.

♦  For the Indian Air Force, the DAC approved the acquisition of Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft systems.

♦ These advanced surveillance aircraft serve as force multipliers, significantly enhancing combat readiness and operational effectiveness across the battlefield.

♦ As part of the Ministry of Defence’s initiative to celebrate 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’, the DAC also approved new guidelines aimed at streamlining the capital acquisition process.