India greenlights 5.46 billion dollar defence purchase to boost military capabilities

New Delhi approves procurement of missiles, electronic warfare systems, and kamikaze drones amidst ongoing efforts to modernise armed forces and reduce dependence on Russian equipment.

The government of India has cleared a military procurement plan valued at approximately 520 billion rupees, or 5.46 billion dollars, to acquire advanced weapons systems, drones, and electronic warfare infrastructure for its defence forces. The major acquisition proposal received an in-principle clearance on Friday from the Defence Acquisition Council, the country’s top military procurement body headed directly by the defence minister and composed of senior military commanders.

The official government announcement did not specify the precise timeframe over which these massive procurements will be completed, nor did it clarify whether the newly approved hardware will be purchased from foreign suppliers or manufactured domestically. The policy aligns with a decade-long strategic push by New Delhi to aggressively diversify its defense supply chain away from Russia, which has historically served as its primary hardware provider, by increasing local production and expanding acquisitions from alternative global partners such as France and the United States.

The newly cleared capital layout distributes advanced technical capabilities across all three major branches of the Indian armed forces to enhance multi-domain readiness. For the Indian Army, the council approved the acquisition of anti-drone frameworks, electronic warfare systems, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, portable anti-tank weapons, and an uncrewed jet-based kamikaze drone platform.

To reinforce maritime boundaries and expand tactical surveillance, the maritime allocations cover the procurement of next-generation naval mines, shipborne aerial drones, and a dedicated testing facility. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force is slated to receive a high-altitude unmanned aircraft platform designed explicitly for long-range intelligence gathering and remote sensing operations.

The multibillion-dollar clearance forms part of a broader, rapid military modernisation campaign backed by an annual national defence budget that currently stands at 85 billion dollars. Earlier this year, top Indian authorities sanctioned a separate 39 billion dollar defence procurement package, which famously featured the purchase of Rafale fighter jets from France.

Simultaneously, New Delhi is pursuing an aggressive expansion of its naval branch. Beginning in December, the government initiated orders for at least 75 new combat ships and submarines, with the vast majority slated to be built entirely inside domestic shipyards to strengthen local manufacturing capabilities.