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The Ministry of Defence on Thursday signed contracts worth Rs 4,106 crore for a dedicated communication satellite for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the acquisition of indigenously developed Varunastra heavy-weight torpedoes for the Indian Navy, bolstering military communications and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
The two contracts cover the GSAT-7C satellite at Rs 2,563 crore and Varunastra torpedoes at Rs 1,543 crore.
The GSAT-7C contract has been awarded to NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Bengaluru. Designed, developed and manufactured indigenously, the satellite is intended to provide the IAF with secure, resilient and seamless communications for its operational assets. The dedicated space-based communications capability is expected to strengthen connectivity and coordination across the Air Force’s operational network.
The second contract, signed with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad, covers Varunastra, an indigenous ship-launched heavy-weight anti-submarine torpedo developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory. Equipped with advanced manoeuvring capabilities, the weapon is designed to engage enemy submarines at long ranges, adding to the Navy’s ability to detect and counter underwater threats.
The two procurements address distinct but critical requirements of India’s armed forces: secure communications for air operations and a stronger underwater warfare capability for the Navy. They also place domestic defence companies and research institutions at the centre of efforts to build indigenous capacity in strategically important technologies.
The Ministry said the contracts were in line with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, aimed at strengthening domestic defence manufacturing and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical military capabilities.
Team BharatShakti
