India is planning to spend over ₹1 lakh crore to make its army, navy, and air force stronger and more modern. A top defence meeting, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will take place this week to approve several important projects, including new missiles, spy planes, sea mines, and upgrades for fighter jets. These steps are being taken to improve the country’s security, especially after the launch of Operation Sindoor.

Big Boost for Armed Forces Under Operation Sindoor

NEW DELHI: As Operation Sindoor moves forward, India is preparing to approve a huge defence spending plan of over ₹1 lakh crore to modernize its armed forces. 

This proposal will be reviewed and cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The DAC is the Ministry of Defence’s top decision-making body for purchasing big-ticket military equipment. 

Its upcoming meeting this week will focus on a wide range of proposals from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, especially in the areas of surveillance, air defence, and maritime security.

Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM)

• Cost: ₹30,000 crore

• Purpose: To give the Indian Army an air defence system developed by DRDO, which can detect and destroy enemy aircraft or drones within a 30 km range.

• Importance: This system will strengthen India’s multi-layered air defence network.

 I-STAR Spy Planes for the Air Force

• What’s planned: The Air Force wants to buy three special surveillance aircraft called I-STAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting, and Reconnaissance).

• Source: These planes will be bought from abroad but later upgraded in India by DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems with help from private companies.

• Role: These aircraft will give the military real-time intelligence and help with precision attacks.

DRDO-Developed Sea Mines for the Navy

• Use: The Navy plans to induct pressure-based moored sea mines created by DRDO.

• Purpose: These mines are designed to stop or destroy enemy submarines and warships in key sea zones.

Upgrade of Su-30MKI Fighter Jets

• Number of jets: 84

• What’s new: These Russian-origin fighter aircraft will get modern avionics, new weapons, and electronic warfare systems.

• Stage: The upgrade plan has already been approved in principle and is now moving forward.

 Underwater Autonomous Vessels

• Objective: The Navy also wants to buy unmanned underwater drones to improve undersea surveillance and warfare.

• Use: These drones will help track threats in deep waters without risking lives.

This will be the first major DAC meeting since Operation Sindoor, India’s counter-terror and surveillance mission, was launched. 

The urgency behind these proposals shows the government’s serious push to strengthen national security and military capabilities.

Once these proposals are approved, they are expected to significantly boost India’s battlefield readiness while also supporting the country’s goals of indigenization (building defence equipment within India) and adopting modern technology.