The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a capital acquisition contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the procurement of two mountain radars, associated equipment and required infrastructure for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The contract, under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category, was finalised in New Delhi on 31 March 2026 in the presence of senior officials from the MoD and BEL. The deal is valued at around Rs 19,500 million (mn).

The mountain radar has been indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)'s Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (ERDE) and will be manufactured by BEL. Installation and commissioning of the radars are expected to strengthen air defence and improve surveillance capabilities in mountainous regions, significantly enhancing force readiness and deterrence. The procurement is intended to reduce dependency on foreign equipment and support domestic technological maturity.

The project aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India initiatives and is aimed at strengthening the national defence industrial base. Manufacturing and supporting infrastructure work related to the radars will provide opportunities for supply chain development, skills enhancement and longer term maintenance ecosystems within the country. Officials indicated that indigenously developed systems will contribute to strategic autonomy and resilience of critical defence capabilities.

The involvement of BEL as the manufacturer is expected to consolidate its role in the defence electronics sector and foster collaboration with research laboratories and suppliers. The MoD will oversee installation, testing and integration with existing air defence networks to ensure operational effectiveness in challenging terrains. The contract is one element of ongoing efforts to modernise forces while promoting indigenous design, development and manufacture.