Editorial

The Defence Acquisition Council’s approval of acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹1.10 lakh crore marks a significant and welcome stride in India’s military modernisation drive. Chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the council’s grant of Acceptance of Necessity covers critical systems for the Army, Navy and Air Force, with nearly 98 per cent of the procurements earmarked for Indian industry. This is not merely a large-ticket clearance; it is a clear affirmation of the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision in the strategic domain.

For the Indian Air Force, the most notable element is the integration of long-range air-to-air missiles with a range exceeding 300 km on the Su-30MKI fleet. These beyond-visual-range weapons, capable of engaging targets at high speeds, will substantially enhance the IAF’s offensive and defensive punch in contested airspace. Coupled with secure communication systems for fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters, the package addresses both lethality and networked warfare capabilities — essential in an era of multi-domain operations.

The Army stands to gain mobility and specialised platforms: Advanced Light Helicopters, high-mobility vehicles, CBRN reconnaissance vehicles, self-propelled mine layers, trawl tanks and the Sarvatra bridge system. These will improve operational flexibility in diverse terrains and high-threat environments. The Navy’s share includes Arudhra radars for improved air surveillance and the indigenous design and development of Marine Gas Turbines, a critical step towards reducing dependence on foreign propulsion systems. What elevates this decision is the overwhelming preference for domestic sourcing. By directing almost the entire value towards Indian industry, the government is not only conserving foreign exchange but also nurturing a robust defence-industrial ecosystem. Private players and public sector units stand to benefit from sustained orders, technology absorption and capacity expansion.

Yet approvals are only the beginning. The real test lies in timely execution, quality assurance and seamless integration of these systems into existing force structures. Past delays in defence projects remind us that bureaucratic hurdles and production bottlenecks can blunt strategic intent. Close monitoring, clear timelines and accountability mechanisms will be essential.

In a complex security environment marked by two active borders and rapid technological change, capability gaps cannot be afforded. This ₹1.10 lakh crore package, with its strong indigenous tilt, strengthens India’s deterrence posture while advancing self-reliance. If implemented with the same decisiveness that characterised its clearance, it will meaningfully enhance the combat readiness of the armed forces and reinforce India’s strategic autonomy.

The latest Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, which killed at least 11 people in the village of Kfar Roummane (also reported as Kfar Reman), including two children and medics, represent more than another tragic episode in a long conflict. They expose a pattern of excessive force that risks plunging the region into deeper chaos while eroding whatever remains of international legitimacy for Israel’s military operations.

According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli warplanes struck a residential building after midnight, killing nine civilians from the same family — among them infants — and wounding several others, including children. A separate drone strike targeted a vehicle carrying paramedics affiliated with a local emergency service, killing at least one medic. These attacks occurred without prior evacuation warnings for the residential site, in an area already scarred by displacement and repeated bombardment.

Israel justifies such strikes as responses to Hezbollah drone attacks on its troops operating in occupied parts of southern Lebanon. The military claims it targeted militants transferring weapons or infrastructure linked to the group. Yet the results on the ground tell a different story: civilian homes reduced to rubble, children dead, and medical workers deliberately or recklessly endangered. When strikes repeatedly claim the lives of non-combatants and emergency personnel, claims of “precision” ring hollow.

This pattern is not isolated. Since the fragile June ceasefire, Israel has intensified operations in southern Lebanon, particularly after asserting control over strategic ridges. The cumulative civilian toll has climbed into the thousands since earlier phases of the conflict. Each new wave of strikes that kills families and medics deepens Lebanese resentment, strengthens Hezbollah’s narrative of resistance, and makes a durable political settlement more remote.

Israel has a legitimate right to defend its citizens and border communities. Hezbollah’s rocket and drone attacks are serious provocations that cannot be ignored. But the right of self-defence is not a blank cheque for collective punishment or the disproportionate use of force. International humanitarian law requires distinction between combatants and civilians, and proportionality in response. Striking residential buildings and medical responders fails both tests.

Worse, this approach is strategically shortsighted. By prioritising kinetic dominance over political restraint, Israel risks widening the war at a time when regional tensions — already inflamed by events involving Iran — remain highly volatile. Further escalation could draw in other actors, destabilise Lebanon’s fragile state, and generate new cycles of radicalisation.

Military power alone will not deliver lasting security for Israel. What is required is disciplined force that minimises civilian harm, genuine efforts to uphold ceasefire arrangements, and a recognition that endless airstrikes on southern Lebanese villages will not eliminate the underlying political and security challenges. The deaths of children and medics in Kfar Roummane should serve as a stark warning: continued disregard for civilian lives will only prolong the conflict and isolate Israel further on the world stage.

• SAS Kirmani