The Defence Ministry has cleared a massive military upgrade worth Rs 67,000 crore, including 87 armed drones and 110+ BrahMos missiles, in a bid to sharpen India’s strike power.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, August 6 — In a major step toward strengthening India’s combat capabilities, the Defence Ministry on Tuesday approved a series of high-value military procurement proposals worth Rs 67,000 crore, including the acquisition of 87 advanced armed drones and over 110 air-launched BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
The green light was given by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, under the category of “Acceptance of Necessity” (AoN), which paves the way for formal contracts to be negotiated and signed.
87 Armed Drones for Tri-Services
Among the biggest approvals was for 87 medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) armed drones, equipped with air-to-ground missiles and laser-guided bombs. These drones will feature ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) capabilities and can return to base after strike missions—unlike kamikaze drones.
Costing around Rs 20,000 crore, the drones will be manufactured by an Indian firm in partnership with a foreign OEM, with at least 60% indigenous content. An additional Rs 11,000 crore will be allocated for logistical and technical support for 10 years.
The need for such drones was “sharply felt during Operation Sindoor,” a senior official said, referencing the coordinated strikes across Pakistani airbases in May. During that operation, Indian forces also deployed Israeli-made Harop and Harpy loitering munitions to target enemy radar and communication assets.
The DAC under RM Shri @rajnathsingh today approved various proposals amounting to a total cost of about Rs 67,000 crore.
Indian Army:
✅ AoN for Thermal Imager-based Driver Night Sight for BMPs
>Enhances night driving, mobility & operational advantage⚓ Indian Navy:
✅ AoN… pic.twitter.com/GfSQMlaa1K— Defence Decode® (@DefenceDecode) August 5, 2025
These MALE drones are expected to be faster and operationally available much sooner than the 31 MQ-9B Predator drones ordered from the US in 2023, which are set to be delivered only by 2029–30.
110+ BrahMos Missiles Cleared for IAF
The DAC also approved the procurement of over 110 BrahMos air-launched cruise missiles, jointly developed by India and Russia, at a cost of Rs 10,800 crore.
These high-speed missiles, capable of flying at Mach 2.8 with a range of 450 km, were successfully deployed by Sukhoi-30MKI fighters during Operation Sindoor. Together, the fighter-missile combination provides India with deep-strike capability over 1,500 km.
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Additionally, approvals were granted for:
- 8 BrahMos fire control systems and vertical launchers for older Indian Navy warships (Rs 650 crore)
- Thermal imager-based night sights for the Army’s BMP infantry combat vehicles
With this round of approvals, the total value of BrahMos-related deals has now crossed Rs 58,000 crore, making the missile the cornerstone of India’s conventional precision-strike arsenal.
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In March 2024, the Ministry had signed a Rs 19,519 crore contract for over 220 BrahMos missiles for the Navy.
Today, around 20 frontline warships — including destroyers and frigates — are equipped with the BrahMos system, reinforcing its role as a maritime and air dominance asset.
With this latest push, India continues to boost its indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities, operational readiness, and deterrent power across all three services.
The acquisitions are in line with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) policy and come amid growing regional tensions and the need for rapid-response combat assets.
