New Delhi: Two contracts worth Rs 802 crore were signed by the Ministry of Defence on January 4 for the procurement of military equipment with Jupiter Wagons and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML).

Under the contract, procurement of Qty-697 Bogie Open Military (BOM) Wagons at a cost of Rs 473 crore with Jupiter Wagons and procurement of Qty-56 Mechanical Minefield Marking Equipment (MMME) Mark II worth Rs 329 crore with BEML Ltd, under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category will take place.

The defence ministry in a statement said that the BOM Wagons and MMME will be produced with equipment and sub-system sourced from indigenous manufacturers, giving a boost to the indigenous manufacturing and participation of the private sector in defence production, realising the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Designed by Research Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO), Bogie Open Military (BOM) wagons are specialist wagons used by the Indian Army for mobilisation of the Army units. BOM wagons are used to transport light vehicles, Artillery Guns, BMPs, Engineering Equipment etc. from their peacetime locations to operational areas. This Critical Rolling Stock will ensure speedy and simultaneous induction of units and equipment into operational areas during any conflict situation besides, facilitating their peacetime movement for Military exercise and movement of units from one station to another.

MMME has been designed to operate cross country with complete load of stores and carry out marking of minefields with minimal time and manpower employment. The equipment is based on an in-service High Mobility Vehicle having advanced mechanical and electrical systems which will reduce the timings for minefield marking during operations and will enhance the operational capability of Indian Army. Marking of all minefields is a mandatory requirement as per amended Protocol-II on Convention in certain Conventional Weapons to which India is a signatory.