Defense Ministry signs Rs 2,000 crore deal with Bharat Electronics Limited for air defense radars
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New Delhi: The Ministry of Defense has signed a Rs 2,000 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to procure Air Defense Fire Control Radars for the Indian Army under the 'Buy (Indian–Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)' category.
The radars, with a minimum 70 per cent indigenous content, are capable of detecting a wide range of airborne threats, including fighter jets, attack helicopters, and drones. According to the Defense Ministry, this marks a major step in modernizing the Indian Army’s Air Defense Regiments and enhancing its operational readiness.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and senior officials from the ministry and BEL.
The Defense Ministry said the procurement would also promote indigenous defense manufacturing by encouraging the participation of Indian MSMEs in component production and raw material supply.
This deal is part of the government's larger push for self-reliance in defense. Earlier this month, the Defense Acquisition Council, chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, approved 10 proposals to acquire military hardware worth Rs 1.05 lakh crore through indigenous sources.
India’s defense production has now reached a record Rs 1.46 lakh crore, with exports touching Rs 24,000 crore in 2024-25. “Our defense production, which was only Rs 43,000 crore 10 to 11 years ago, has now crossed a record figure of Rs 1,46,000 crore, with the private sector’s contribution of over Rs 32,000 crore,” said Rajnath Singh during a recent address at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) summit.
He added that India’s defense exports, once limited to Rs 600–700 crore, now exceed Rs 24,000 crore. Make in India is described as vital not only for national security but also for economic prosperity. Indigenous systems were said to have played a key role in Operation Sindoor, demonstrating India's capability to breach enemy defenses.
Highlighting the contribution of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the minister said over 16,000 MSMEs in the defense sector have become the backbone of the supply chain and are generating employment across the country.
