The ministry of defence (MoD) has signed contracts with ACE Limited and JCB India Limited in the presence of defence secretary R K Singh for procurement of 1868 Rough Terrain Fork Lift Truck (RTFLT) at a total cost of Rs 697.35 crore for the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
The RTFLT is a critical equipment which will assist in various combat and logistics support tasks by avoiding manual handling of enormous number of stores and thus enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
The present case being a Buy (Indian) case will enhance national defence equipment manufacturing capabilities. This project has immense potential of direct and indirect employment generation by encouraging MSME sector through component’s manufacturing. The procurement marks a pivotal step towards modernising India’s defence infrastructure and empowering indigenous industries, which will be a proud flag-bearer of ‘Aatmnirbhar Bharat’.
The MoD also signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru on 20 February 2025, for procurement of 149 Software Defined Radios (SDRs) for Indian Coast Guard at a total cost of Rs 1220.12 crore under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
These state-of-the-art radios will enable secure and reliable information sharing, collaboration, and situational awareness through high-speed data and secure voice communication. This will strengthen the Indian Coast Guard’s capability to fulfil its core responsibilities, including maritime law enforcement, search and rescue operations, fisheries protection, and marine environment protection. Additionally, these radios will enhance interoperability for joint operations with the Indian Navy.
The project is a strategic step toward bolstering the Coast Guard’s operational capabilities and supporting the government of India’s Blue Economy objectives by reinforcing maritime security. Aligning with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, the contract will enhance the country’s manufacturing capabilities for advanced military-grade communication systems, generating employment opportunities and fostering expertise development.