The defence ministry gave preliminary nod Thursday to three major acquisition projects and seven smaller ones, collectively worth over ₹1 lakh crore, ranging from specialised spy aircraft and advanced minesweepers to quick-reaction air defence missiles and underwater autonomous vessels.
The biggest project to get “acceptance of necessity” (AoN), which is just the first step in the long-winded procurement process, was for the indigenous construction of 12 mine countermeasure vessels for around ₹44,000 crore, which will take almost a decade, sources told TOI.
These specialised warships, each with a displacement of 900–1,000 tonne, will be capable of detecting, tracking and destroying underwater mines laid by enemy forces to choke harbours and ports, disrupt shipping and maritime trade.
