NEW DELHI: The defence ministry on Thursday approved the purchase of weapons and military equipment worth Rs 79,000 crore. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, cleared the proposals at its meeting.According to an official statement from the ministry, the army received Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of the Nag Missile System (Tracked) Mk-II (NAMIS), Ground-Based Mobile ELINT System (GBMES), and High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs) with Material Handling Crane.” The procurement of NAMIS (Tracked) will enhance the Indian Army’s capability of neutralising enemy’s combat vehicles, bunkers & other field fortifications, whereas GBMES will provide round-the-clock Electronic Intelligence of enemy emitters,” the official statement said. For the navy, AoN was granted for the purchase of Landing Platform Docks (LPD), 30mm Naval Surface Gun (NSG), Advanced Light-Weight Torpedoes (ALWT), Electro-Optical Infra-Red Search and Track System, and Smart Ammunition for the 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount.”The procurement of LPDs will help the Indian Navy to undertake amphibious operations along with Indian Army and Indian Air Force. The integrated sea capability provided by LPD will also help the Indian Navy to undertake peacekeeping operations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief,” the statement added. For the air force, AoN was accorded for the Collaborative Long Range Target Saturation/Destruction System (CLRTS/DS) and other projects. The statement said the CLRTS/DS can take off, land, navigate, detect, and deliver payload autonomously in the mission area.
