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31 Dec 2025·Source: The Indian Express
3 min
Polity & GovernanceEconomyScience & TechnologyNEWS

Defence Ministry Secures ₹4,666 Crore Deals for Combat Carbines and Torpedoes

Defence Ministry signs ₹4,666 crore deals for combat carbines and torpedoes, boosting 'Make in India' in defense.

Defence Ministry Secures ₹4,666 Crore Deals for Combat Carbines and Torpedoes

Photo by Lincoln Holley

The Ministry of Defence has signed two significant contracts worth over ₹4,666 crore for the procurement of 70,000 SIG Sauer Assault Rifles and 1,500 Heavyweight Torpedoes. The first deal, valued at ₹2,700 crore, is with a private Indian firm, PLR Systems Pvt Ltd, for the assault rifles, which will be manufactured in India. The second contract, worth ₹1,966 crore, is with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the Varunastra Heavyweight Torpedoes, also to be manufactured domestically.

These procurements are crucial for modernizing the Indian Armed Forces and significantly boost the 'Make in India' initiative in the defense sector. The deals aim to enhance the combat capabilities of the Army and Navy, reduce reliance on foreign imports, and foster indigenous defense manufacturing, creating employment and technological self-reliance. This is a key development for GS3 Internal Security (defense modernization) and GS3 Economy (defense industry, Make in India).

Key Facts

1.

Defence Ministry signs two deals worth ₹4,666 crore

2.

Procurement of 70,000 SIG Sauer Assault Rifles (₹2,700 crore)

3.

Procurement of 1,500 Varunastra Heavyweight Torpedoes (₹1,966 crore)

4.

Assault rifles from PLR Systems Pvt Ltd (Indian firm)

5.

Torpedoes from Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) (PSU)

6.

Both to be manufactured in India under 'Make in India'

UPSC Exam Angles

1.

Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) and its evolution

2.

Role of private sector and DPSUs in defence manufacturing

3.

Impact of 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' on the defence sector

4.

Challenges and opportunities in defence indigenization

5.

Internal security implications of defence modernization

6.

Economic impact: employment, technology transfer, export potential

Visual Insights

Key Highlights of Defence Deals (Dec 2025)

This dashboard summarizes the critical financial and procurement details of the recent defence contracts, emphasizing their scale and alignment with 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives.

Total Deal Value
₹4,666 Crore

Represents a significant investment in modernizing the Indian Armed Forces and boosting indigenous defence manufacturing.

Assault Rifles Deal
₹2,700 Crore

Contract with PLR Systems Pvt Ltd (Indian private firm) for 70,000 SIG Sauer Assault Rifles, manufactured in India. Boosts private sector participation.

Torpedoes Deal
₹1,966 Crore

Contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a DPSU, for 1,500 Varunastra Heavyweight Torpedoes, manufactured domestically. Enhances naval capabilities.

Indigenous Manufacturing Share
100%

Both procurements are for items to be manufactured domestically, directly supporting the 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' objectives in defence.

More Information

Background

India has historically been one of the largest importers of defence equipment globally. This reliance on foreign suppliers has led to significant capital outflow, technological dependence, and vulnerability in times of conflict. To address this, successive governments have emphasized indigenization and self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Latest Developments

The recent contracts for SIG Sauer Assault Rifles and Varunastra Heavyweight Torpedoes, valued at over ₹4,666 crore, signify a continued push towards 'Make in India' in defence. The involvement of both a private Indian firm (PLR Systems Pvt Ltd) and a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (Bharat Dynamics Limited - BDL) highlights a diversified approach to indigenous manufacturing. These deals are crucial for modernizing the Indian Army and Navy while fostering domestic industrial capabilities.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. Consider the following statements regarding India's defence acquisition and indigenisation efforts: 1. The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 prioritizes procurement from Indian vendors under various 'Buy Indian' categories. 2. The 'Strategic Partnership Model' aims to encourage private sector participation in manufacturing high-tech defence equipment in India. 3. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) is a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) primarily involved in the manufacture of missiles and underwater weapons. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 only
  • B.2 and 3 only
  • C.1 and 3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: D

Statement 1 is correct. DAP 2020 indeed prioritizes procurement from Indian vendors to boost domestic manufacturing. Statement 2 is correct. The Strategic Partnership Model (SP Model) was introduced to promote private sector participation in manufacturing major defence platforms like submarines, fighter aircraft, helicopters, and armoured vehicles. Statement 3 is correct. BDL is a prominent DPSU known for manufacturing missiles (e.g., Akash, Konkurs) and underwater weapons like torpedoes (e.g., Varunastra).

2. In the context of 'Make in India' in the defence sector, which of the following initiatives are aimed at fostering indigenous design, development, and manufacturing? 1. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) 2. Srijan Portal 3. Negative Import List for defence items 4. Defence Industrial Corridors Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.3 and 4 only
  • C.1, 2 and 3 only
  • D.1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer

Answer: D

All four initiatives are crucial for fostering indigenous design, development, and manufacturing in the defence sector. 1. iDEX: Aims to create an ecosystem to foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging industries, including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes, and academia. 2. Srijan Portal: An online portal launched by the Ministry of Defence to facilitate indigenisation by providing access to items that were previously imported, allowing Indian industry to express interest in manufacturing them. 3. Negative Import List (or Positive Indigenisation List): A list of defence items that will not be imported and must be procured from domestic sources, thereby boosting indigenous production. 4. Defence Industrial Corridors: Established in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to attract investments in defence manufacturing and create a robust defence industrial ecosystem.

3. Which of the following statements correctly describes the 'Varunastra' Heavyweight Torpedo mentioned in the news?

  • A.It is a short-range air-to-air missile developed by DRDO for fighter aircraft.
  • B.It is an indigenously developed anti-ship missile for naval frigates.
  • C.It is an indigenously developed heavyweight torpedo for anti-submarine warfare.
  • D.It is a surface-to-air missile system designed for land-based air defence.
Show Answer

Answer: C

The news article explicitly mentions the procurement of 'Varunastra Heavyweight Torpedoes' from Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), to be manufactured domestically. Varunastra is indeed an indigenously developed heavyweight torpedo, primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations by the Indian Navy. Options A, B, and D describe different types of weapons (air-to-air missile, anti-ship missile, surface-to-air missile system) which are incorrect.

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