DRDO offers 28 indigenous weapon systems to military for emergency procurement

In a major push for ‘Make in India’ defense manufacturing, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has offered 28 of its indigenously designed weapon systems to the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force for emergency procurement. This move is part of the central government’s policy to empower the armed forces to respond swiftly to operational requirements. Under the emergency procurement powers, each service can directly acquire equipment worth up to ₹300 crore per product to boost their combat readiness. The equipment offered covers 14 systems for the Indian Army, 8 for the Indian Navy, and 6 for the Indian Air Force, aligning with current and future operational priorities. The DRDO has streamlined the procurement process by listing domestic production vendors for each weapon system. For example:
• Solar Defense and Aerospace Ltd. will produce the Pinaka rocket systems
• Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) will supply a significant portion of missile-related inventory.

 This enables the services to place orders and replenish stocks immediately, within a critical timeframe of six months to one year, given the evolving regional threats. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is also expected to acquire the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), with a proposal under active review by the Defense Ministry. SAAW is designed to deliver precision strikes on enemy runways and airfields from standoff ranges, significantly enhancing India's strike capabilities. The DRDO’s growing role as India’s premier indigenous weapons developer has been underlined by the performance of systems like the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, MRSAM (Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile), and Akash Air Defense Systems, all of which played a pivotal role during Operation Sindoor, countering Pakistani aggression.