The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed two contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) at a total cost of Rs 2,400 Crores, to bolster the defence capabilities of the country.
The first contract with BEL pertains to procurement of Automated Air Defence Control & Reporting System ‘Project Akashteer’ worth Rs 1,982 crore for the Indian Army. The second contract with 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 Crores for the Indian Navy.
Both these projects are under Buy {Indian – IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)} category.
Project Akashteer
The Automated Air Defence Control & 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 Indian Army and effectively control the Ground Based Air Defence Weapon Systems.
Sarang systems
Sarang is an advanced Electronic Support Measure system for helicopters of the 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.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1911937
