On February 25, 2025, the Indian Army signed a contract with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Ltd to procure 223 Automatic Chemical Agent Detection and Alarm (ACADA) systems at a cost of ₹80.43 crore. This acquisition, under the ‘Buy Indian (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured)’ category, emphasizes the government’s commitment to self-reliance, with over 80% of the components and sub-systems being sourced locally.
The induction of ACADA systems will significantly enhance the Indian Army’s defensive capabilities against Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats. These systems are designed to detect chemical agents automatically and provide real-time alerts, thereby improving operational readiness and response during both military operations and peacetime, especially in disaster relief scenarios involving industrial accidents.
This procurement aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative, promoting indigenous manufacturing and reducing dependence on foreign technology in critical defense sectors.