Missiles to jet engines: Defence signs deals worth Rs 39,000 crore with domestic firms 

Two contracts — worth Rs 20,506 crore — were signed with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited for procurement of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and ship-borne BrahMos systems, which was recently cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Another contract — Rs 5,250 crore for procurement of RD-33 Aero-engines for MiG-29 aircraft — was signed with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The remaining two — worth Rs 13,369 crore — were sealed with Larsen & Toubro Limited for Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) and High Power Radars (HPR). CIWS are systems that help destroy short-range missiles and aircraft that breach the outer defences.

According to the Ministry statement, the RD-33 Aero Engines will help the Indian Air Force (IAF) sustain the operational capability of its MiG-29 fleet for the residual service life. These engines, it said, will be manufactured at HAL’s Koraput Division under a Transfer of Technology (TOT) licence from the Russian original equipment manufacturer (OEM), with focus on indigenisation of several high value critical components.

“It would help increase the indigenous content of future Repair and Overhaul (ROH) tasks of RD-33 aero-engines,” the statement said.

On the procurement of CIWS from L&T (at a cost of Rs 7,668.82 crore), the Ministry said the CIWS will provide terminal air defence to select locations in the country while the project will boost active participation of Indian aerospace, Defence and associated industries including MSMEs.

The IAF’s existing long-range radars are also being replaced with modern active aperture phased array-based High Power Radars (HPR), which come with advanced surveillance features.

“The contract for procurement of HPR has also been signed with L&T at a cost of Rs 5,700.13 crore… It will boost to indigenous radar manufacturing technology as it would be first of its kind radar built by the private sector in India,” the Ministry said.

The BrahMos missiles, which will be procured at a cost of Rs 19,518.65 crore, would be utilised to meet combat outfit and training requirements of Navy, while the ship-borne BrahMos system, to be bought at a cost of Rs 988.07 crore, will be the Navy’s primary weapon for maritime strike operations.

The ship-borne BrahMos system will be fitted onboard various frontline warships, and can hit land or sea targets from extended ranges with pinpoint accuracy at supersonic speeds.