DAC approves equipment acquisition worth Rs 5500 crore

New Delhi: Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman met on Thursday and accorded approval for the procurement of equipment for the Defence Forces worth Rs 5500 crore. In the process of indigenisation and self-reliance in the field of Defence Procurements, the DAC approved procurement of 12 High Power Radars for the Indian Air Force under 'Buy (Indian) IDDM' category.

The ministry informed that radars would provide long range medium and high altitude radar cover with the capability to detect and track high speed targets following parabolic trajectories. Technologically superior, the radars will have the capability to scan 360o without mechanical rotation of Antenna and will operate on 24x7 basis with minimal maintenance requirement. Their procurement will enhance the overall efficacy of the Air Defence network in the country.

The DAC also accorded approval for procurement of Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) for the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Army from Indian Shipyard. These vessels would offer great advantage over conventional boats and crafts with their ability to travel at very high speeds over shallow water, sand banks, mud flats and swamps which are non-navigable by boats/small crafts due to draught restrictions/uncharted depths.

These craft offer capability enhancement for the Services, and would prove useful for amphibious and riverine operations, especially where there is a requirement to move men and material from one island to another island, across riverine terrain and creeks etc.