Defence Ministry inks contracts for procurements for Army and Navy at a cost of over ₹4,600 cr., Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Defence Ministry signed contracts worth ₹4,666 crore for procuring Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines and Heavyweight Torpedoes on Tuesday.
• Over 4.25 lakh CQB Carbines, valued at ₹2,770 crore, will be procured from Bharat Forge Ltd. and PLR Systems Pvt Ltd. for the Indian Army and Navy.
• A contract worth ₹1,896 crore was signed with WASS Submarine Systems S.R.L., Italy, for 48 Heavyweight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy’s Kalvari Class (Project-75) submarines.
• Delivery of the Heavyweight Torpedoes is scheduled to begin from April 2028.

Detailed Insights:

• The procurement of CQB Carbines aims to replace outdated small arms with modern, high-lethality weapons, aligning with the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision.
• CQB Carbines are designed for close-combat and confined-space operations, offering a compact design and high rate of fire.
• The project highlights collaboration between the government and private sector, strengthening the Make in India initiative and supporting MSMEs.
• The Heavyweight Torpedoes will enhance the Indian Navy's underwater warfare capabilities and are intended for use with the Kalvari Class submarines.
• These acquisitions demonstrate the government's commitment to modernizing the armed forces by incorporating advanced technologies to meet evolving operational needs.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Aatmanirbhar Bharat: A government initiative promoting self-reliance in various sectors, including defence.
• Make in India: A government program to encourage domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports.
• MSMEs: Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, which are vital to India's economic growth and defence industrial base.