India bought 13 types of weapons via emergency procurement

New Delhi: From drones to air defence systems and loitering munition–the Defence Ministry has purchased 13 types of weapons worth nearly Rs 2,000 crore using the “emergency procurement” route to equip the Indian Army, officials said on Tuesday.

The weapons and equipment for which the ministry signed contracts include integrated drone detection and interdiction systems, low level lightweight radars; very short-range air defence systems (VSHORADS), launchers and missiles, remotely piloted aerial vehicles and loitering munitions, including vertical take-off and landing systems.

Other contracts are to procure various types of drones, bullet-proof jackets, ballistic helmets, quick reaction fighting vehicles and heavy and medium and night sight for rifles.

“These contracts, amounting to Rs 1,981.90 crore, have been finalised against an overall sanctioned outlay of Rs 2,000 crore for the Indian Army,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

Executed through fast-track procedures under the emergency procurement scheme, the equipment and weapons aim to enhance situational awareness, lethality, mobility, and protection for troops deployed in counter terrorism environments.

“The acquisitions were completed within compressed timelines to ensure rapid capability augmentation,” the ministry said.

These procurements will equip the Indian Army with mission-critical and completely indigenous systems to meet emerging security challenges.

More such procurements might be on the cards as close to Rs 40,000 crore were made available to the forces replenish the inventory used during Op Sindoor, sources said.

Officials said that nearly 15% of the capital and revenue allocation for the three services had been set aside for all the three services for emergency procurement, giving operational flexibility to the forces.