Following an intense aerial confrontation with Pakistan between May 7 and 10, India has moved to approve the emergency procurement of new air defense and counter-terrorism equipment. This urgent acquisition comes in the wake of the incident on April 22, where 26 civilians were killed in Jammu and Kashmir. Accusing Pakistan of harboring terrorists, India retaliated with Operation Sindoor, striking nine terrorist camps on Pakistani soil. Pakistan’s subsequent response included drone attacks and the downing of an unspecified number of Indian fighter jets.
In response, India’s Ministry of Defense has signed 13 contracts totaling over $200 million. These contracts, executed through fast-track procedures under an emergency procurement mandate, are designed to significantly enhance situational awareness, lethality, mobility, and protection for troops engaged in counter-terrorism operations.
Key procurement include Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems (IDDIS), Low-Level Lightweight Radars (LLLR), and very-short-range air-defense launchers and missiles. The IDDIS counter-drone system proved effective in downing Pakistani drones during the May conflict. Both IDDIS and the LLLR, a portable 3D active electronically scanned array radar capable of detecting low radar cross-section aerial threats such as drones, are produced by India’s Bharat Electronics Limited, a company owned by the Indian government.
The new orders also include a range of unmanned systems. Among these are Mumbai-based ideaForge’s Hybrid Mini UAVs for surveillance, as well as 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions from Solar Industries India Ltd, based in the city of Nagpur.
Since January, the Indian Army has issued numerous requests for information for various drone types, underscoring the military’s push to boost its unmanned system inventories. These systems are invaluable for surveillance and minimizing casualties, in the challenging terrain along the India-Pakistan border.
Furthermore, the contracts address soldier protection and mobility, with orders for bullet-proof jackets, ballistic helmets, rifle night sights, and Tata 4×4 Quick-Reaction Fighting Vehicles (QRFVs). The Indian Army had previously received its first QRFVs in April 2022.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
