- In a big push for self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector, the defence ministry signed a raft of contracts for indigenous military hardware worth ₹32,100 crore including warships, supersonic missiles for the navy, and surface-to-air missiles and weapon locating radars for the army, the latest in a series of deals concluded in March ahead of the financial year-end, officials familiar with the matter said.
- The signed contracts include 11 NGOPV and six Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) to be constructed by Indian shipyards at an overall cost of about Rs 19,600 crore.
- Another contract worth Rs 9,100 crore includes the one for procurement of an improved Akash Weapon System and 12 Weapon Locating Radars (WLR), WLR Swathi (Plains) for the Indian Army.
- One more deal includes with BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd for Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (long range) and BrahMos missiles worth Rs 1,700 crore.
- The Indian Navy has signed yet another contract for the supply of 13 fire control systems (Lynx-U2) at a total cost of over Rs 1,700 crore.
- These are to be supplied by Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited. Three different Indian shipyards have been engaged to manufacture the Indian naval ships.
- The contract for the acquisition of 11 NGOPVs under ‘buy Indian’ category was signed with Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata at a total cost of Rs 9,781 crore.
- The purchases happened two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to address top commanders of the army, air force and navy at the Combined Commanders Conference in Bhopal where among other things Atmanirbharat (self-reliance) in defence will be reviewed.
- The contract for the acquisition of 11 next-generation OPVs was signed with Goa Shipyard Ltd and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata at a total cost of Rs 9,781 crore. Of the 11 ships, seven will be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by GSL and four by GRSE. The delivery of the ships is scheduled to commence from September 2026.
- The six missile vessels will be manufactured by Cochin Shipyard Limited at a cost of Rs 9,805 crore and the delivery of ships is scheduled to commence from March 2027.
- Other deals are 13 fire control systems for the Indian Navy and 12 weapon locating radar for Indian Army; both are to be supplied by Bharat Electronics Limited
Defence Ministry inks contract worth Rs 32,000 crore in push for self-reliance
