New Delhi: Contracts worth ₹5,083 crore were signed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on March 3 for the acquisition of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard, and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch – Shtil missiles for the Indian Navy. The contracts were inked in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in Delhi.
Valued at ₹2,901 crore, the contract for the six ALH Mk-III (MR) choppers, along with operational role equipment, an engineering support package, and performance-based logistics support, has been signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru. According to MoD, the purchase comes under the category of indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured products.
The ALH Mk-III (MR), twin-engine helicopters incorporate state-of-the-art features superior to the airborne platforms currently in operation, and are capable of undertaking a wide spectrum of maritime security missions from shore-based airfields as well as from ships at sea. Their induction is expected to significantly enhance the Indian Coast Guard’s capability to ensure the safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore installations, and fishermen, as well as safeguarding the marine environment, the Ministry said.
The project envisages supply of equipment from more than 200 MSMEs and is expected to generate approximately 65 lakh man-hours of employment. The contract reinforces the government’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, or resilient India, and the Make-in-India initiative, while strengthening the country’s maritime security architecture, it added.
As per the Ministry, the contract for the procurement of Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch – Shtil missiles and associated missile holding frames, valued at ₹2,182 crore, has been signed separately, with JSC Rosoboronexport, a state-run company of the Russian Federation. The acquisition is aimed at substantially enhancing the air defence capabilities of frontline warships against a wide spectrum of aerial threats.
Bolstering the layered air defence architecture onboard Indian Navy platforms by providing rapid-reaction, the system will enhance all-weather engagement capability and improved survivability in contested maritime environments. The contract underscores the longstanding defence partnership between India and Russia, built on mutual trust and strategic alignment.
