On Thursday, the Ministry of Defence entered into a contract with Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) for the delivery of medium-range surface-to-air missiles (MRSAM) to the Indian Navy, valued at around Rs 2,960 crore.
Representative Image | File Pic
Contract Overview
The MRSAM system is now a standard feature on several Indian Naval Ships and is expected to be integrated into most future platforms slated for acquisition. This contract represents a significant step in strengthening India's defense capabilities and advancing the indigenization of cutting-edge military technology, as stated by the Ministry of Defence. In line with the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, the missiles will be supplied by BDL under the 'Buy (Indian)' category, with a high proportion of domestic content.
The contract is projected to create approximately 3.5 lakh man-days of employment within the defense sector, benefiting various MSMEs, the statement further noted. The agreement was formalized in Delhi, with officials from the Ministry of Defence and BDL, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
The Contract Agreement
The contract was signed just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three new frontline naval combatants—destroyer INS Surat, frigate INS Nilgiri, and submarine INS Vaghsheer—bolstering India's growing naval power. The Prime Minister acknowledged the significant shift towards Atma Nirbharta (self-reliance) within India's armed forces over the past decade, commending their efforts to reduce dependency on foreign nations in times of crisis. He highlighted that the armed forces had identified over 5,000 items and pieces of equipment that will no longer be imported. He further underscored the growing confidence of Indian soldiers in utilizing domestically manufactured equipment.
PM Modi also emphasized the establishment of India's largest helicopter manufacturing facility in Karnataka and a new transport aircraft factory for the armed forces. He praised the achievements of the Tejas fighter jet and the development of defense corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which are accelerating the nation’s defense production capabilities.
PM Modi expresses contentment over the Navy's remarkable growth
The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction with the Navy's significant growth under the Make in India initiative, recognizing the vital contribution of Mazagon Dockyard. He highlighted that in the last decade, the Navy has inducted 33 ships and seven submarines, with 39 out of 40 vessels being constructed in Indian shipyards. Notable examples include the impressive INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and nuclear submarines such as INS Arihant and INS Arighaat.
The Prime Minister also commended the armed forces for their role in driving the Make in India campaign, noting that India's defence production has exceeded Rs 1.25 lakh crore. Additionally, he pointed out that the country is now exporting defence equipment to more than 100 nations and expressed confidence in the swift evolution of India's defence sector with ongoing support.
Comments