The Indian Army issued a ₹30,000 crore tender on September 26, 2025, to Bharat Electronics Limited for procuring five to six regiments of the indigenous Anant Shastra surface-to-air missile system, developed by DRDO and formerly known as the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile. The Defence Acquisition Council cleared this project following Operation Sindoor in May 2025, a four-day conflict where the system proved combat-effective in neutralizing Pakistani drone attacks along the western border. The highly mobile system, with a 30-km operational range, can search, track and engage targets while moving and fire during short halts, making it ideal for deployment along sensitive northern and western borders with China and Pakistan. Having completed extensive day and night trials, the Anant Shastra will complement existing air defense systems like MRSAM and Akash, providing enhanced protection against emerging threats including drones and loitering munitions. This procurement aligns with Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s indigenization drive and India’s commitment to self-reliance in defense manufacturing, strengthening the Army Air Defence’s layered protection capabilities in increasingly contested airspace while reducing foreign dependency and boosting domestic technological advancement.