New Delhi: Ministry of Defence signed a contract valued at Rs 2,312 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on February 12 for the acquisition of eight Dornier 228 Aircraft along with Operational Role Equipment for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi.
Expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment by strengthening the HAL’s production ecosystem, the programme will support a broad network of MSMEs and ancillary industries. It will also create sustained opportunities in Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul and life cycle technical support.
Ministry of Defence in a statement said that the contract reinforces the government’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India while bolstering India’s maritime security architecture.
Additionally, the defence ministry also cleared the proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government framework from France. In total, capital acquisition of military hardware worth Rs 3.60 lakh crore was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, to enhance the combat readiness of the defence forces.
