The Indian Army has signed a contract with L&T Ltd on February 25, 2025, for the procurement of 223 Automatic Chemical Agent Detection and Alarm (ACADA) systems worth Rs 804.3 million under the ‘Buy Indian (IDDM)’ category. This deal strengthens the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with over 80% of the system's components and sub-systems sourced domestically.

Developed by DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior, the ACADA system represents a key milestone in India’s efforts toward self-reliance in the critical CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) defence sector.

The ACADA system uses Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) technology to continuously detect and monitor chemical warfare agents (CWA) and toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) by sampling environmental air. Its deployment will significantly enhance the Indian Army’s defensive capabilities in CBRN operations and strengthen disaster relief responses to industrial accidents.

(PIB)