In a fillip to self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the defence ministry on Thursday signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bangalore for procurement of 13 Lynx-U2 Fire Control Systems for Indian Navy at a total cost of over Rs 1,700 crore.  The systems will be procured under Buy {Indian – IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)} category.

The Lynx-U2 System is a Naval Gun Fire Control System designed and developed indigenously. It is capable of accurately tracking and engaging targets amidst sea clutter as well as air and surface targets.

The fourth generation, completely indigenous systems, will be installed on New Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels to be built indigenously at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers and Goa Shipyard Limited.

This move will generate an employment of two lakh man-days over a period of four years and encourage active participation of various Indian industries, including MSMEs, thus significantly contributing to the Government’s efforts to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence.

On Wednesday, the ministry signed three contracts worth Rs 5,400 crore to bolster defence capabilities of the armed forces.  While two deals were with  Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad, the contract was with  NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

Giving details of the deals, officials said here the first contract with the BEL pertains to procurement of Automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System ‘Project Akashteer’ worth Rs 1,982 crore for the Indian Army.

The second contract with the BEL relates to acquisition of Sarang Electronic Support Measure (ESM) systems along with associated Engineering Support Package from BEL, Hyderabad at an overall cost of Rs 412 crore for the Indian Navy.

The contract with NSIL, a Central Public Sector Enterprise under Department of Space, Bengaluru pertains to procurement of an advanced Communication Satellite, GSAT 7B, which will provide High Throughput Services to the Indian Army at an overall cost of Rs 2,963 crore. All these projects are under Buy {Indian – IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)} category.

The Automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System ‘Project Akashteer’ will empower the Air Defence units of the Indian Army with an indigenous, state-of-the-art capability, to effectively operate in an integrated manner. Akashteer will enable monitoring of low level airspace over the battle areas of the Indian Army and effectively control the Ground Based Air Defence Weapon Systems.

Sarang is an advanced Electronic Support Measure system for helicopters of Indian Navy, designed and developed indigenously by Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad under programme Samudrika. The scheme will generate an employment of approximately two lakh man-days over a period of three years. Both the projects will encourage participation of Indian Electronics and associated industries, including MSMEs, who are sub vendors of BEL.

The advanced Communication Satellite will considerably enhance the communication capability of the Indian Army by providing mission critical beyond line of sight communication to troops and formations as well as weapon and airborne platforms. The geostationary satellite, being a first-of-its-kind in the five-tonne category, will be developed indigenously by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).