The Ministry of Defence, on Friday, signed a major Rs 5,336 crore contract with the defence public sector unit (DPSU), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), for procurement of electronic fuzes for the artillery guns of the Army as part of the long-term requirement of 10 years. Electronic fuzes are an integral component of medium- to heavy-calibre artillery guns that provide sustained artillery firepower for military operations.
“The BEL will manufacture electronic fuzes at its Pune and upcoming Nagpur Plant, which will be used in artillery guns capable of lethal engagements in various kinds of terrain including high altitude areas along the Northern Borders (with China),” Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
“The aim of the project is to build up ammunition stocks to minimise imports, achieve self-sufficiency in ammunition manufacturing, obtain critical technologies and secure stock affected by supply chain disruption,” it added.
As part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision, this contract has been signed for ammunition procurement under ‘Manufacture of Ammunition for Indian Army by Indian Industry’, a government initiative for a long-term requirement of 10 years. The project will generate employment for one and a half lakh man days and encourage active participation of Indian Industries, including MSMEs, in ammunition manufacturing and broaden the ammunition manufacturing ecosystem in the country, the statement stated.
Team BharatShakti
