Boost for Armed Forces: Massive ₹5,000-Crore Missile Deals Headed for Official Nod

India's military modernization is about to receive a massive shot in the arm. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is poised to greenlight a series of high-value procurement proposals totaling roughly ₹5,000 crore.

This highly anticipated meeting marks a significant milestone as the first DAC session attended by the newly transitioned military leadership, including Chief of Defence Staff Gen Raja Subramani, Army Chief Gen Dhiraj Seth, and Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.

At the core of this multi-crore defense boost are two crucial weapon systems: French-designed precision air-to-ground munitions and indigenous man-portable tank killers.

1. 600 HAMMER Missiles (Estimated Cost: ~₹2,400 Crore)

To significantly sharper the precision-strike capabilities of India's aerial fleets, the ministry is looking to secure 600 HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) precision-guided weapons.

• The Integration: The bulk of these lethal air-to-ground munitions will equip the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Rafale and LCA Tejas fighter jets. The Indian Navy also plans to integrate them into its upcoming Rafale Marine combat aircraft.

• The 'Make in India' Pivot: Originally developed by France’s Safran Electronics & Defence, these weapons were first brought into the Indian inventory under emergency procurement powers after the 2020 Galwan Valley border standoff. Moving away from direct imports, these 600 new units will be manufactured locally by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) under a technology-transfer joint venture.

2. 2,300 MP-ATGMs (Estimated Cost: Over ₹2,600 Crore)

In a major victory for indigenous defense manufacturing, the DAC is set to formalize the bulk induction of the Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MP-ATGM) system for the Indian Army.

• The Package: Developed entirely by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), the Army is slated to receive 100 launchers, 2,300 missiles, and 5 training simulators.

• Scaling Production: State-run Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) is designated as the primary production agency for this highly sophisticated third-generation "fire-and-forget" missile system. To ensure rapid deployment, the Defence Ministry is also actively searching for private-sector partners to scale up assembly lines.

What Else is on the Horizon?

While the HAMMER and MP-ATGM deals form the ₹5,000-crore core of the immediate announcement, the military's wishlist for this cycle extends into a broader modernization envelope. The DAC is also expected to deliberate on:

• A massive quantity of Russian-origin Verba Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems (V-SHORADS) to replace aging Igla systems, to be produced domestically by Adani Defence.

• High-Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS) and fixed-wing surveillance systems.

• Kamikaze drones, drone detection technologies, and crucial upgrades for the Navy’s Scorpene-class submarine fleet.

The Bigger Picture

This dual clearance perfectly highlights India's current balanced defense strategy. By manufacturing the French HAMMER smart bombs domestically via BEL and mass-producing the DRDO's home-grown tank hunter via BDL, New Delhi is simultaneously securing its critical supply chains while aggressively driving its Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) agenda forward.

1. The Actual Scale: A Multi-Project ₹1-Lakh-Crore Umbrella

While the HAMMER and MP-ATGM deals form the immediate ₹5,000-crore block, the total value of all procurement proposals listed for review during this massive DAC cycle actually scales up to over ₹1,000,000,000,000 (₹1 lakh crore). The HAMMER and MP-ATGM deals are just the initial spearheads of a much larger artillery and technology overhaul.

2. The True Operational Target: "Stand-Off" Strategy

The push for 600 domestic HAMMER munitions isn't just a bulk purchase—it represents a distinct tactical shift towards stand-off range warfare.

• HAMMER kits essentially convert traditional "dumb" bombs into smart, rocket-assisted precision missiles with a combat range of up to 70 kilometers.

• This capability is specifically designed to allow IAF Rafales and LCA Tejas to target enemy bunkers, command centers, or hardware deep behind hostile lines without ever crossing into range of enemy air-defense systems.

3. The Landmark Artillery Expansion: K-9 Vajra

A massive chunk of the broader ₹1-lakh-crore pool involves the Indian Army’s largest artillery expansion in recent years: the planned procurement of 300 additional K-9 Vajra 155mm/52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzers. Like previous iterations, these heavy artillery units will be manufactured locally by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in partnership with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, primarily deployed to reinforce high-altitude border security.

4. Private-Sector Competition Opened for MP-ATGMs

The decision to bring private defense players into the MP-ATGM assembly line is a calculated policy shift. While Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) remains the primary production agency, the Defence Ministry is proactively vetting private defense firms to act as secondary manufacturing partners. The goal is to aggressively scale up domestic production speeds, ensuring the Indian Army is not vulnerable to single-point supply line bottlenecks.

5. What’s Missing: The Scorpene Submarine Pause

Crucially, defense insiders have revealed that the high-profile proposal to procure additional Scorpene-class conventional submarines for the Indian Navy was intentionally kept off the immediate agenda for this specific DAC session. While critical upgrades for the existing Scorpene fleet are moving forward, the multi-billion dollar acquisition of the new hulls has been temporarily bypassed to prioritize immediate aerial and infantry missile deployments.