In a major step toward enhancing India’s military readiness and supporting domestic defence manufacturing, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on July 3, 2025, approved capital acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs 1.05 lakh crore. All ten proposals fall under the highest indigenous procurement category: Buy (Indian–Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured), or IDDM.
This marks a significant push under the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and comes at a time when the Indian Armed Forces are accelerating efforts to close critical capability gaps across land, sea, and air.
What is the ‘Buy Indian-IDDM’ category and why does it matter?
The Buy (Indian-IDDM) category is the most preferred route under India’s Defence Acquisition Procedure. It ensures that platforms are not only manufactured domestically but also designed and developed in India. This means more investment in local research, reduced reliance on foreign suppliers, and a stronger defence-industrial base.
By selecting this route for all 10 capital acquisitions, the DAC has signaled its confidence in Indian defence firms’ ability to deliver sophisticated systems. It also ensures that critical defence technologies remain under Indian control — a strategic move in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment.
What are the key platforms and systems being acquired?
The approved proposals span a wide array of capabilities across the three services:
- Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs): Vital for retrieving damaged tanks and heavy vehicles under battlefield conditions, ensuring mobility and continuity during operations.
- Electronic Warfare Systems: These disrupt enemy communication and radar systems and provide electronic protection for Indian forces.
- Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs): Designed to neutralize aerial threats, enhancing India’s layered air defence network.
- Integrated Common Inventory Management System (ICIMS): A logistics backbone for the Army, Navy, and Air Force to monitor and manage supplies efficiently.
For the Indian Navy, the acquisitions include:
- Moored Mines: Fixed underwater mines that act as a deterrent and defensive measure in strategic waters.
- Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs): Specialised ships that detect and neutralise mines, ensuring maritime safety.
- Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM): High-speed naval guns capable of engaging fast-moving targets.
- Submersible Autonomous Vessels (SAVs): Unmanned undersea vehicles for reconnaissance and mine-detection tasks.
How will these acquisitions strengthen India’s defence posture?
These systems will significantly improve the Indian Armed Forces’ readiness across multiple domains. ARVs and inventory systems will enhance mobility and logistics for the Army. SAMs and electronic warfare systems will bolster air defence and survivability.
Meanwhile, the Navy’s operational flexibility will be improved through undersea warfare capabilities and modernised shipboard weapons.
Beyond tactical advantages, these procurements deepen India’s technological self-reliance, creating a robust pipeline of innovation and manufacturing within the country. It ensures that India’s military growth is not just rapid — but also sovereign.