Drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor, the Ministry of Defence on Friday cleared additional procurements, including five more Russian-origin S-400 air defence systems, indigenous Ghatak stealth attack drones and Dhanush artillery guns.The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the apex decision-making body of the ministry, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for proposals worth an estimated cost of Rs 2.38 lakh crore. An AoN marks the first step in the acquisition process.The DAC approved the procurement of five additional S-400 systems, which performed effectively during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May last year. These will be in addition to the five systems already contracted, of which three have been delivered and the remaining two are expected this year. The ministry said the S-400 systems would strengthen India’s capability to counter long-range aerial threats targeting critical assets.Sources said the additional systems were likely to cost around $6.1 billion (approximately Rs 63,000 crore). India had earlier signed a $5.4 billion deal with Russia in 2018 for five S-400 units. The system — comprising radars, sensors and missiles — has been credited with intercepting Pakistani drones and cruise missiles.Last month, the Air Force released a video showing an S-400 missile engagement, claiming what it described as the “longest-ever air kill”, hitting a high-value airborne target at a range exceeding 300 km.Taking note of the growing role of drones in modern warfare, the DAC also approved the procurement of 60 Ghatak unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ghatak is a stealth-capable UCAV designed for low radar visibility and internal weapon carriage.Once operational, the platform will be capable of deep-strike missions in heavily defended airspace, targeting high-value assets without risking pilots. It is intended for roles such as suppression of enemy air defences and precision strikes on strategic infrastructure.The ministry said the UCAVs would enhance offensive counter-air and coordinated operations, while also providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.The DAC also cleared the procurement of 300 Dhanush artillery guns to boost long-range firepower across varied terrain. The Army had earlier inducted 114 such guns.Additionally, approvals were granted for an air defence tracked system for the Army to enable real-time air defence control and reporting, along with high-capacity radio relay systems to ensure reliable communications. A runway surveillance system for frontline Army units was also cleared.For the Air Force, the DAC approved procurement of medium transport aircraft to replace the ageing AN-32 and IL-76 fleets, along with overhaul of Sukhoi-30 engines.For the Indian Coast Guard, approval was granted for heavy-duty air cushion vehicles to support high-speed coastal patrolling, reconnaissance and search-and-rescue operations.