Govt clears Rs 31,000 cr defence orders

The government has cleared weapons acquisitions worth over ₹31,000 crore, including the single largest order ever to the Indian private sector. Approvals have been granted by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for purchase of Brahmos missiles and launchers for the navy and high powered radars and close in weapon systems (CIWS) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The contracts are likely to be signed in the current financial year and will come as a boost to the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem. Sources said that the order for over 200 extended range Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles is valued at close to ₹20,000 crore. These missiles will be fitted onboard leading warships. The Brahmos missile is also being supplied to the Philippines.

The CIWS system, the urgency for which has increased in recent times given the threat of unmanned aerial systems, is valued to close to ₹6,000 crore and, once signed, will be the largest single order to the Indian private sector. Defence manufacturing giant Larsen and Toubro has won the air force order and the systems will be manufactured indigenously.