Military Acquisitions, Partnerships & Developments

[Rakesh]

DAC likely to clear major deals for S-400, Unmanned Combat Jets, BrahMos cruise missiles; transport aircraft today
https://aninews.in/news/national/genera ... 327104220/
27 March 2026

[bala]

Why India’s defence manufacturing must shift from ‘Make in India’ to ‘Design in India

the next leap will require a transition from assembly-led growth to design-led capability, policymakers and industry leaders said on Wednesday. strategic autonomy by 2047 will depend on owning intellectual property, building depth across the supply chain and creating industrial ecosystems that can support both domestic demand and exports. Major General Tarun Agrawal, AVSM, ADG Acquisition Technical (Army), Ministry of Defence, said the transformation underway in the sector is already visible in policy and budgeting decisions.

link

[bala]

DAC okays ₹2.38 lakh crore defence buys across Army, IAF and Coast Guard



S-400 system


The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for defence procurement proposals worth about Rs 2.38 lakh crore.

For the Indian Army, approvals include the Air Defence Tracked System, Armoured Piercing Tank Ammunition, High Capacity Radio Relay, Dhanush Gun System and Runway Independent Aerial Surveillance System.These systems are aimed at strengthening real-time air defence control, improving battlefield communication, and enhancing long-range artillery strike capability and surveillance operations, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.The Air Defence Tracked System will enable real-time control and reporting, while the High Capacity Radio Relay is expected to ensure reliable and fail-proof communication.

The Dhanush Gun System is designed to improve artillery lethality and accuracy across terrains, and the aerial surveillance system will bolster intelligence and monitoring capabilities. Armoured piercing ammunition will enhance anti-tank firepower, the ministry said.For the Indian Air Force, the DAC cleared proposals for the Medium Transport Aircraft, the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system, Remotely Piloted Strike Aircraft, and the overhaul of Su-30 aero-engine aggregates. The new transport aircraft will replace ageing AN-32 and IL-76 fleets to meet strategic and tactical airlift requirements.

The S-400 system is expected to strengthen long-range air defence against aerial threats, while remotely piloted strike aircraft will support offensive operations and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.The overhaul of Su-30 engines aims to extend aircraft service life and ensure operational readiness, the ministry stated.

For the Indian Coast Guard, AoN has been granted for Heavy Duty Air Cushion Vehicles, which will be deployed for coastal patrolling, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and logistics support operations.The approvals come amid a record year for defence procurement. In FY26, the ministry said that AoN has been granted for 55 proposals worth Rs 6.73 lakh crore. Additionally, capital procurement contracts for 503 proposals amounting to Rs 2.28 lakh crore have been signed so far in the current fiscal, the highest in any financial year, the ministry said.

Link

[VinodTK]

Cross Posting from Missiles thread

Big defence boost: India set to receive fourth S-400 missile systems by April-end

An Indian Air Force team has arrived in Russia to inspect a fourth S-400 system for India, which will likely arrive by April-end and be deployed in the Western sector, people aware of the matter said on Monday.

The fifth S-400 system is set to be deployed by November this year, said people aware of the matter.

The fifth S-400 system is set to be deployed by November this year, they said, days after the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved five additional Russian-origin S-400 Triumf air defence systems. The fourth unit of the air defence system is likely to be deployed in Rajasthan.

The additional air defence systems will bring the number of S-400 units in India to 10. The country ordered five units from Russia in 2018 under a government-to-government deal. After the DAC nod, all steps leading to a government-to-government deal for the additional systems are likely to be closed within a year, the officials quoted above said.

India’s defence acquisition process follows a chain of approvals to ensure strict oversight. It begins with the statement of case, outlining the operational requirement and justification for procurement. The proposal is then examined by the Defence Procurement Board chaired by the defence secretary. It then moves to the DAC for Acceptance of Necessity. Once this is cleared, detailed cost negotiations are undertaken with the vendor, followed by financial approval from the competent authority. The final clearance is granted by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

The Indian Air Force previously made a case for the purchase of five more S-400 systems from Russia along with the Pantsir short-range system. The Russian missile system is effective in combating armed and kamikaze drones. The S-400 and Pantsir missile systems can be integrated into a two-layer defence system to take out aerial objects fired from across the border.

The Indian armed forces used the air defence system extensively to bring down Pakistani fighter aircraft, early warning and intelligence gathering aircraft and armed drones during Operation Sindoor in May 2025.

HT earlier reported that after India hit a wide-bodied aircraft inside Punjab in Pakistan at a distance of 314km using an S-400 long range missile, Rawalpindi virtually shifted all its operational aircraft towards its airbases in the west near Afghanistan and Iran.

With India attacking Pakistani radar installations in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Pasrur, the Pakistani air force was a no show on May 9-10 due to the fear of the S-400 system deployed at Adampur and Bhuj sectors.

[VinodTK]

russia’s $47M Deal with India for 2S6 Tunguska Systems Allegedly Covers Spare Parts Only

As part of their ongoing military cooperation, India and russia have signed a new $47 million contract for Tunguska air defense systems. Initial media reports suggest that the contract involves the delivery of additional units of this system to the Indian Army.

However, the russian Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies noted on its unofficial blog, BMPD, that the contract covers only the supply of components for India's Tunguska systems, worth $47 million. No further details regarding this agreement are publicly available.
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[A Sharma]

India tightens sky shield: Zen Tech to manufacture cannons for drone threats

[Aditya_V]

russia’s $47M Deal with India for 2S6 Tunguska Systems Allegedly Covers Spare Parts Only

As part of their ongoing military cooperation, India and russia have signed a new $47 million contract for Tunguska air defense systems. Initial media reports suggest that the contract involves the delivery of additional units of this system to the Indian Army.

However, the russian Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies noted on its unofficial blog, BMPD, that the contract covers only the supply of components for India's Tunguska systems, worth $47 million. No further details regarding this agreement are publicly available.
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its a replacement of 25 year old Sam's, with newer tech Sams, better seekers, better prepollent, electronics etc to cover CMs and new Drone threats.

[uddu]

IA needing a missile to take out drones and need to be 7km range. When VSHORADS gives 6km, why not utilize it? Probably air launch will give it the extra range. Hope rather than delaying things, they get the VSHORADS integrated and tested and inducted as soon as possible.
Indian Defence Updates : Su-57 Deal Signed,6th Gen Entry,200 K9 Vajra Order,Japan Offers Mogami

[SRajesh]

Japan to change its policy
https://www.theweek.in/news/defence/202 ... -rise.html
Anything that we could negotiate for a joint production??
ShinMaywa U2 deal got stuck with costs etc
Will there be a revival especially for Coast Guard, SAR, Reconnaissance etc
And if we are going to develop Lakshadweep and A&N for base etc , U2 may come in very handy
Also Li battery tech collaboration for AIP etc
They have already signed up UK and Italy for 6th Gen fighter
But can they step in place of Safran for engine given they are also looking for engine.
IHI XF9-1 NO BIG production yet

[uddu]

MoD Expected to Approve Dual-Satellite Guided SAAW for Surgical Strikes With EO/IIR Variant Planned Next
https://defence.in/threads/mod-expected ... ext.17534/

[ashthor]

MoD Expected to Approve Dual-Satellite Guided SAAW for Surgical Strikes With EO/IIR Variant Planned Next
https://defence.in/threads/mod-expected ... ext.17534/

Till then buy SAAW in huge numbers or waiting for best of the best of the best.

[bala]

Rajnath Singh boards type 212 class submarine in Germany and visits TKMS shipyard.

[uddu]

Rajnath Singh boards type 212 class submarine in Germany and visits TKMS shipyard.

This now is a signed deal. If the Navy was little bit earlier with the design of the Indigenous submarine, we must have avoided this.

[SSridhar]

MoD Expected to Approve Dual-Satellite Guided SAAW for Surgical Strikes With EO/IIR Variant Planned Next
https://defence.in/threads/mod-expected ... ext.17534/

The above report is inaccurate when it comes to EO/IR integration to SAAW.

A MoD release said that on November 3, 2021, DRDO & IAF jointly tested two configurations of SAAW equipped with IIR electro-optical seekers while the earlier ones were with satellite navigation. This was the first time an electro-optical seeker had been added to the SAAW. The IIR seeker was indigenously designed and developed. The release said, “In both the tests, the intended target was hit with high accuracy. The system is designed for a maximum range 100 kilometres. Electro optical seeker-based flight test of this class of bomb has been conducted for the first time in the country.”

[uddu]

This could be the Turbojet variant of SAAW
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Ant ... eld_Weapon
(Admins please dont remove. Content from open source)
Turbojet variant
To convert SAAW from a precision-guided munition to an affordable air-launched cruise missile with capabilities comparable to BrahMos, DRDO began developing a turbojet variant in 2025 with a strike range of more than 200 km. While maintaining aerodynamic efficiency, it will be longer than the base model, measuring about 2.5 meters. It will be compatible with Dassault Rafale and Sukhoi Su-30MKI. With fire-and-forget capability, it will feature an EO/IIR seeker. While maintaining a circular error probability of less than three meters, it will autonomously track and hit its target after launch. In inclement weather, the seeker will guarantee both day and night operations against mobile targets. By the end of 2025, the trials will be over, assessing its performance in all weather conditions, accuracy, and range. Production will commence after it is successfully concluded.[42]

or it meant this
As of 17 June 2025, a proposal for the procurement of satellite-guided variant of the SAAW has been forwarded by the Indian Air Force to the Ministry of Defence. The proposal is expected to be cleared soon. The SAAW is to be integrated with "almost" the entire fleet of the Air Force.[31][32][33]

[putnanja]

The Iranian Shaheed missile is supposed to have just a piston engine and carries 60kg warhead, and sips fuel. That's good jugaad given the sanctions they faced. Also cheap to mass produce

[ashthor]

This could be the Turbojet variant of SAAW
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Ant ... eld_Weapon
(Admins please dont remove. Content from open source)
Turbojet variant
To convert SAAW from a precision-guided munition to an affordable air-launched cruise missile with capabilities comparable to BrahMos, DRDO began developing a turbojet variant in 2025 with a strike range of more than 200 km. While maintaining aerodynamic efficiency, it will be longer than the base model, measuring about 2.5 meters. It will be compatible with Dassault Rafale and Sukhoi Su-30MKI. With fire-and-forget capability, it will feature an EO/IIR seeker. While maintaining a circular error probability of less than three meters, it will autonomously track and hit its target after launch. In inclement weather, the seeker will guarantee both day and night operations against mobile targets. By the end of 2025, the trials will be over, assessing its performance in all weather conditions, accuracy, and range. Production will commence after it is successfully concluded.[42]

or it meant this
As of 17 June 2025, a proposal for the procurement of satellite-guided variant of the SAAW has been forwarded by the Indian Air Force to the Ministry of Defence. The proposal is expected to be cleared soon. The SAAW is to be integrated with "almost" the entire fleet of the Air Force.[31][32][33]

How many SAAW ordered till now?

[A Sharma]

DRDO hands over AI-powered ‘Prajna’ system to home ministry. What is it? Why does it matter?

[uddu]

How many SAAW ordered till now?

From the link above
On 15 December 2021, Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh handed over SAAW to IAF Chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari clearing way towards mass production.[30] For the manufacturing of the SAAW, DRDO has partnered with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and Bharat Dynamics Limited.[1][2]

Operational history
During the 2025 India-Pakistan confrontation, the India Air Force employed the DRDO-developed Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon for the first time during Operation Sindoor, attacking Pakistani airfields.[34][35][36][37][38] On January 27, 2026, while interacting with DRDO's top-performing scientists and technical personnel who were guests at the 77th Republic Day Parade, Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh complimented the role of locally made weapons.[39][40]

The Version 1 is in production. Numbers will not be known. The EO-SAAW may be now ready for production. The article headlines
"MoD Expected to Approve Dual-Satellite Guided SAAW for Surgical Strikes With EO/IIR Variant Planned Next" could mean productionising the same.

[bala]

India Signs $8B Deal For 6 German Submarines - What Berlin Refused Everyone For Decades

India, Germany $8B Submarine Pact. A significant deal for six next-gen submarines is nearing completion, marking a major shift in India's defence strategy. This agreement includes crucial military technology transfer, strengthening naval power and reshaping international relations. The move highlights evolving geopolitics in the region and new dynamics in the global arms trade.