MoD Signs ₹2,000 Crore Contracts for Software-Defined Radios and Forklift Trucks.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed multiple contracts totaling around ₹2,000 crore to strengthen India's maritime security and logistics capabilities.

In a key deal, the MoD inked a ₹1,220.12 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) for the procurement of 149 Software Defined Radios (SDRs) for the Indian Coast Guard under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. These advanced communication systems will enhance secure voice and data transmission, boosting operational efficiency in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, fisheries protection, and environmental monitoring. The radios will also improve interoperability with the Indian Navy, supporting joint missions.

Additionally, the MoD has signed contracts worth ₹697.35 crore with ACE Limited and JCB India Limited to procure 1,868 Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks (RTFLTs) for the Army, Air Force, and Navy. These trucks will optimize logistics by reducing manual handling of heavy stores, improving combat and operational readiness.

Meanwhile, Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) has secured a contract to refit the MCGS Barracuda, an offshore patrol vessel of the Mauritius National Coast Guard. Originally built by GRSE and commissioned in 2015 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius’ then-Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth, the vessel was India’s first export warship. The refit follows GRSE’s successful early completion of maintenance work on Seychelles’ PS Zoroaster in May 2024.

These agreements align with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, reinforcing India’s defense manufacturing ecosystem and supporting maritime security across the Indian Ocean region.

HBL