MoD Signs ₹2,906 Crore Deal with BEL for Advanced Radars

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a ₹2,906 crore capital acquisition contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad, for the procurement of ‘Ashwini’ Low-Level Transportable Radars (LLTR). These advanced radars will enhance the Indian Air Force’s ability to track missiles fired by fighter aircraft, helicopters, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Indigenously designed and developed by the Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Ashwini radar features active electronically scanned phased array technology and state-of-the-art solid-state technology. It is capable of detecting and tracking aerial targets ranging from high-speed fighter jets to slow-moving UAVs and helicopters.

The contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block, New Delhi, on Wednesday.

According to the MoD, this acquisition will significantly bolster the Indian Air Force’s operational preparedness while advancing the country’s goal of self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The initiative also aims to reduce dependency on foreign equipment and strengthen India’s domestic defence industrial ecosystem.

HBL