The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday approved proposals worth Rs 79,000 crore for acquiring a new class of warships, a drone-based attack system for the Indian Air Force (IAF), missile systems, high-mobility vehicles, naval guns and other equipment for the armed forces.

The DAC okayed Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) — the first step in the defence procurement process, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement.

For the Navy, the DAC cleared the procurement of Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) — 30,000-tonne warships capable of amphibious operations alongside the Army and Air Force. The LPDs can land troops, tanks and vehicles directly on shore without berthing at a jetty.

To be built at Indian naval shipyards, the LPDs will be th

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