Thu Feb 20 12:07:10 UTC 2025: ## India Signs ₹1,917 Crore Defence Contracts for Coast Guard Radios and Army Forklifts
**NEW DELHI, February 20, 2025** – The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the signing of two significant contracts totaling ₹1,917.47 crore for the procurement of advanced military equipment. The first contract, worth ₹1,220.12 crore, is with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for 149 indigenously developed software-defined radios (SDRs) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). These SDRs will replace older, single-purpose radios, providing enhanced secure communication and interoperability with the Indian Navy for improved maritime operations.
The second contract, valued at ₹697.35 crore, was awarded to ACE Limited and JCB India Limited for the supply of 1,868 rough terrain forklift trucks (RTFLTs) to the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. These vehicles will significantly improve logistics and combat support by reducing manual handling of supplies.
Both contracts emphasize the “Buy (Indian)” initiative, boosting domestic defence manufacturing and creating employment opportunities, particularly within the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. The MoD highlighted the strategic importance of these procurements in enhancing the operational capabilities of the Indian armed forces and strengthening national security.
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