India’s Bharat Electronics Limited Bags Contracts Worth $1 Billion in March
Indian public sector defence electronics firm Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed two separate contracts with the Indian Ministry of Defense on March 23, worth a total of ₹3,700 crore ($450 million). On March 24, a third contract worth ₹3,000 crore ($366 million) was also signed with MoD. Multiple recent contracts worth ₹1,300 crore ($158 million) were also revealed by BEL.
The first contract, worth over ₹2,800 crore ($342 million), is for the supply of an unspecified number of Medium Power Radar (MPR) Arudhra for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The second contract worth ₹950 crore ($116 million), relates to procurement of 129 DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers (RWR). Both projects are under the Buy Indian – IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category. IAF signed contracts for both systems on March 24.
The Arudhra radar has been indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with BEL being the manufacturing partner. It is a 4D multi-function phased array radar with electronic steering in both azimuth and elevation for surveillance, detection and tracking of aerial targets.
The system will have target identification based on interrogations from a co-located Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system. With an instrumented range of 400 km and altitude coverage up to 30 km, the Arudhra radars will significantly enhance the surveillance and tracking capabilities of the IAF.
The DR-118 Dhruti Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) will considerably enhance the Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities of IAF’s Su-30 MKI fighters. Majority of sub-assemblies and parts will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers, generating employment of about two lakh man-days over a period of three and half years. The new RWR is part of a phased upgrade to dozens of the 260 strong Su-30MKI fleet of the IAF.
BEL and MoD signed a ₹3,000 crore contract on March 24 for procurement of two Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems under Project Himshakti. Project Himshakti will generate employment of approximately three lakh (300,000) man-days over a period of two years.
Himshakti is a comprehensive Electronic Warfare (EW) system designed for deployment in the mountainous border regions in northern India. The system will enhance the EW capabilities of the Indian Army amidst unabated border issues with China.
The Indian Navy is the intended customer for multiple contracts worth over ₹1,300 crore signed with BEL in March. BEL stated in a press release that the equipment to be procured includes systems for fire control, gun fire control, surveillance, tracking, ESM and sonars.