Defence Ministry Signs Rs 15.61 Billion Deal for Bridge-Laying Tanks
DEFENSE

Defence Ministry Signs Rs 15.61 Billion Deal for Bridge-Laying Tanks

The Defence Ministry has signed a Rs 15.61 billion contract with the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, Chennai, to supply 47 T-72 Bridge-Laying Tanks (BLTs) to the Indian Army. These tanks will enhance the Army’s ability to ensure swift movement of mechanised forces in battle zones, supporting both offensive and defensive operations. BLTs are vital for launching bridges during military manoeuvres, making them a critical asset for mechanised forces. The deal aligns with the Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured) category under India’s defence procurement policy, which emphasises indigensation. This project is expected to significantly contribute to India’s economy and generate employment opportunities. HVF, a unit of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited (AVNL), is one of the seven defence companies formed in 2021 after the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). These companies now produce a range of defence equipment, including ammunition, vehicles, weapons, troop comfort items, and electronics. The contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and senior officials from the ministry and HVF/AVNL. It marks another step in India’s efforts to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Recent initiatives include phased import bans on various weapons and components, increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) from 49% to 74%, and creating a dedicated budget for indigenous military hardware. India aims to achieve a defence manufacturing turnover of Rs 1.75 trillion in FY 2024-25. The latest deal follows a Rs 29.6 billion contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited to equip the Navy with medium-range surface-to-air missiles, further underscoring the country’s commitment to strengthening its defence capabilities.(HT)

The Defence Ministry has signed a Rs 15.61 billion contract with the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, Chennai, to supply 47 T-72 Bridge-Laying Tanks (BLTs) to the Indian Army. These tanks will enhance the Army’s ability to ensure swift movement of mechanised forces in battle zones, supporting both offensive and defensive operations. BLTs are vital for launching bridges during military manoeuvres, making them a critical asset for mechanised forces. The deal aligns with the Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured) category under India’s defence procurement policy, which emphasises indigensation. This project is expected to significantly contribute to India’s economy and generate employment opportunities. HVF, a unit of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited (AVNL), is one of the seven defence companies formed in 2021 after the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). These companies now produce a range of defence equipment, including ammunition, vehicles, weapons, troop comfort items, and electronics. The contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and senior officials from the ministry and HVF/AVNL. It marks another step in India’s efforts to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Recent initiatives include phased import bans on various weapons and components, increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) from 49% to 74%, and creating a dedicated budget for indigenous military hardware. India aims to achieve a defence manufacturing turnover of Rs 1.75 trillion in FY 2024-25. The latest deal follows a Rs 29.6 billion contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited to equip the Navy with medium-range surface-to-air missiles, further underscoring the country’s commitment to strengthening its defence capabilities.(HT)

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code