In what is being billed as a "critical milestone" in the efforts to enhance India’s defence capabilities and indigenise advanced military technology, a contract was signed between the ministry of defence and ammunitions and missile systems manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the supply of Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM) for the Indian Navy.
MRSAM system is a standard fit onboard multiple Indian Naval Ships and is planned to be fitted on the majority of the future platforms planned for acquisition.
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Capable of engaging multiple targets at ranges up to 70 kilometres, MRSAM provides air defence against aerial threats like fighter aircraft, UAVs, guided and unguided munitions and cruise missiles.
The contract, worth approximately Rs 2,960 crore, was signed by the officials of MoD and BDL in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi on Thursday.
"With the emphasis on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, the missiles would be supplied by BDL under ‘Buy (Indian)’ category with largely indigenous content. The contract would generate employment of approx. 3.5 lakh mandays in the defence industry, including various MSMEs," the dfence ministry said in a release.