India’s Defence Ministry Slashes Weapon Procurement Timelines to Boost Military Readiness

India’s Defence Ministry Slashes Weapon Procurement Timelines: The Defence Ministry on Friday said that it has slashed the defence procurement timelines by 69 weeks and is transitioning from cost-plus to competitive pricing models in a bid to to accelerate modernisation and ensure equitable treatment for both public and private sector participants.

“Major reforms in defence procurement are underway. The Ministry of Defence has slashed timelines by 69 weeks and is shifting from cost-plus models to competitive pricing. These steps are designed to accelerate modernisation and bring public & private sectors on equal footing," the ministry said in a post on X.

The Defence Ministry’s statement came a day after Air Force Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh raised concerns over delays in major defence procurement projects.

While addressing the CII Annual Business Summit 2025, the Air Marshal emphasised on the need to expedite the defence procurement process and said that the industry should not make promises if it cannot deliver on time.

“So, once a timeline is given, not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time. So this is something we must look at," the Air Force chief said, adding, “Why should we promise something which cannot be achieved?" he had said.

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He further added that while signing the contract itself, the forces are sometimes sure that it is not going to come up on time, but still contracts are signed. “Sometimes we know it’s unachievable but sign the contract anyway. We need to be realistic and transparent from the start," he added.

Speaking at a defence conclave on Friday, Singh said that move will save “about 69 weeks” and the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, the document that spells out the procurement process, is being revisited to reflect current realities.

“The defence ministry has already, in the year of reforms, slashed the timelines for some of the processes in the procurement cycle. This would save about 69 weeks overall in the process timeline.”

“There is a need to shift away from the traditional nomination-based procurement focused mostly on the public sector to a more competitive pricing model where both the public and private sector can compete for orders,” Singh said.

He highlighted that the new approach is “already being implemented for shipbuilding and recently for the AMCA (advanced medium combat aircraft) project”.

The AMCA program, under the aegis of the Aeronautical Development Agency, is now targeting a prototype rollout by late 2026 or early 2027, with ambition for a maiden flight in 2028. Initially expected to take to the skies in 2018, the program has faced numerous challenges, including funding issues, production delays, and setbacks in engine development approvals.

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Singh also highlighted the growing role of the private sector in defense research and development, as well as manufacturing capabilities. He pointed to initiatives like the Strategic Partnership framework introduced in the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, which aims to foster a robust and innovation-driven defense industrial base in India. Notably, the Defence Acquisition Council’s endorsement of ₹54,000 crore for military hardware purchases in March 2025 complements this strategy, along with updated guidelines designed to streamline procurement timelines by 10 to 15 percent.

By addressing long-standing issues in the procurement process and shifting toward more competitive models, these reforms aim to overcome the persistent challenges of delays and unrealistic expectations that have hampered India's defence acquisition efforts. The changes also support the broader strategic goal of Aatmanirbharta, which has already shown promising results in transforming India from a top importer to an emerging exporter of defence equipment.

The success of these reforms will ultimately be measured by their ability to deliver military equipment and capabilities to the armed forces in a timely manner, enhance the competitiveness and innovation of the domestic defence industry, and contribute to India's strategic autonomy.

As these changes take effect, they have the potential to not only strengthen India's military preparedness but also create ripple effects throughout the economy by fostering technological development, employment generation, and industrial growth—all critical components of the vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

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