Defence ministry inks ₹2,500 cr deals for light vehicles and anti-tank weapons

New Delhi: The defence ministry has inked contracts worth ₹2,500 crore to procure new anti-tank weapons and light specialist vehicles for the Army, with all systems to be manufactured indigenously.

Officials said that state-owned Armoured Vehicle Nigam Ltd has been given a contract to produce a tracked version of the indigenously developed Nag Missile System. The anti-tank weapons will cost ₹1,801 crore and have been developed by DRDO, with officials saying they would enhance the operational readiness of the Army. "NAMIS is one of the most sophisticated anti-tank weapon systems against enemy armour with fire-and-forget anti-tank missile and sighting system for enhanced firepower and lethality," they said.

The other order inked is for procurement of light specialist vehicles that have a payload of 800 kg and are designed to navigate tough terrain. This has been signed with Mahindra & Mahindra and Force Motors.