India has approved yet another multi-billion-dollar defense procurement package as part of its ongoing effort to modernize its armed forces and strengthen self-reliance in military production. On October 23, the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared proposals worth approximately $8.8 billion for the acquisition of advanced missiles, surveillance systems, and amphibious vessels. The latest approval underscores New Delhi’s sustained drive to bolster its deterrence capabilities amid escalating regional tensions and intensifying global power competition.

According to the Indian Defense Ministry, the new acquisitions will significantly enhance the operational readiness of all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces-Army, Navy, and Air Force. The approvals include a diverse range of systems designed to address India’s strategic vulnerabilities, from maritime security to ground-based surveillance and long-range strike capability.

For the Indian Navy, the DAC approved the procurement of landing platform docks (LPDs) to enable amphibious operations-an area of growing importance as India seeks to project power and ensure rapid troop deployment along its vast coastline and island territories. The navy will also receive 30mm naval surface guns to strengthen low-intensity maritime and anti-piracy operations, a critical need given the rising incidents of piracy and trafficking in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

In addition, the navy’s underwater warfare capacity will receive a boost with the induction of lightweight torpedoes developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). These torpedoes are designed to target enemy submarines with greater precision, a capability deemed vital as China expands its submarine presence in the Indian Ocean.

The Indian Army will be reinforced with the Nag tracked-missile systems, indigenous anti-tank guided........

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