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In a move aimed at sharpening operational readiness across land and sea, the Ministry of Defence on Friday signed two contracts worth Rs 858 crore covering upgrades to the Army’s air defence network and maintenance support for the Navy’s frontline surveillance aircraft.
The larger of the two contracts, valued at Rs 445 crore, has been signed with Russian JSC Rosoboronexport for the procurement of the Tunguska air defence missile system for the Indian Army. The system, which combines guns and missiles on a single platform, is designed to counter a range of aerial threats including aircraft, drones and low-flying cruise missiles.
Officials said the induction will plug critical gaps in India’s layered air defence architecture, particularly in dealing with emerging drone and precision-strike threats. The deal also underlines the continuing depth of the India-Russia defence relationship despite New Delhi’s growing diversification of suppliers.
Under a parallel contract worth Rs 413 crore, the MoD has tasked Boeing India Defence Private Limited with conducting depot-level maintenance inspections of the Navy’s P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The contract has been signed under the ‘Buy Indian’ category with 100 per cent indigenous content.
The P-8I fleet, India’s primary platform for anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance, will now undergo heavy maintenance within the country at a dedicated maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility. It is expected to reduce turnaround time, cut costs and improve aircraft availability.
Defence officials said both the contracts reflect a dual-track approach: strengthening frontline combat capability while building domestic sustainment capacity. The push aligns with the government’s broader emphasis on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in defence, even as it continues to rely on legacy platforms sourced from overseas partners.
The Ministry noted that the agreements will enhance the combat preparedness of both the Army and the Navy, while also deepening India’s defence industrial ecosystem through greater in-country maintenance capabilities.
Team BharatShakti
