- Overview: The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for projects worth ₹3.60 lakh crore, highlighted by the critical 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) procurement for the IAF.
- Key Points:
- Air Dominance: The 114 MRFA (primarily Dassault Rafale variants under consideration) will exponentially boost the IAF’s long-range offensive and deterrence capabilities.
- Coastal Surveillance: The MoD concurrently signed a ₹2,312-crore contract with HAL for eight Dornier-228 aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard.
- Space & ISR Assets: Approvals also included Air/Ship-Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (AS-HAPS) for persistent remote sensing and electronic intelligence.
- Employment Generation: The HAL Dornier contract is set to empower MSMEs and significantly expand India’s domestic Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) ecosystem.
- Defense Exam Relevance: Critical for SSB Interviews, AFCAT (Current Defense Acquisitions), and UPSC GS-III (Technology in Warfare).
Source Link: PIB Defence Acquisition Council Approvals
- Q3. Which of the following best describes ‘High Altitude Pseudo Satellites’ (HAPS) recently cleared for procurement by the DAC?
- A) Low Earth Orbit satellites used exclusively for civilian GPS tracking.
- B) Solar-powered unmanned aircraft flying in the stratosphere providing persistent surveillance and communication.
- C) Deep space probes launched to study solar flares.
- D) Ground-based radar systems meant for high-altitude mountainous terrains.
