In picture, Sig Sauer SG 516 assault rifle. Credit: Rizuan (talk).

The Government of India has approved the acquisition of arms and military equipment worth Rs22.9bn ($310.1m) amid an ongoing military standoff with China.

The procurement proposals were approved at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The DAC cleared the acquisition of around 72,000 SIG Sauer assault rifles at a cost of Rs7.8bn ($105.62m). The frontline troops of the Indian Army will be equipped with these SIG Sauer assault rifles, which have an effective range of 500m.

According to The Times of India, the Indian Army has already inducted more than 72,400 of the rifles under a fast-track procurement deal signed last year.

Additionally, the DAC approved procurement of Static HF Tans-receiver sets and Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW), under the Buy Indian category.

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The field units of the army and airforce will be equipped with HF radio sets to enable seamless communication. This procurement values around Rs5.4bn ($73.12m).

The Smart Anti Airfield Weapon acquisition will amount to Rs9.7bn ($131.35m), boosting the firepower of the navy and airforce.

India has been engaged in a military standoff with the Armed Forces of China near Ladakh for the past several months. The confrontation occasionally flared up leading to casualties on both sides.

Following the face-off, India ramped up efforts to boost its military capabilities through weaponry procurements, acquisitions and tests.

Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) transferred Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) responsibility of Pinaka weapon system to the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA).

The step will support the production of the Pinaka missile system, which has a range of around 37.5km.