NewKerala.com

India Bolsters Defence with Rs 858 Cr Deals for Tunguska Missiles & P8I Maintenance

The Ministry of Defence signed two contracts totalling Rs 858 crore to bolster India's military capabilities. One contract, worth Rs 445 crore, is with Russia's JSC Rosoboronexport for Tunguska Air Defence Missile Systems for the Army. The other, a Rs 413 crore deal with Boeing India, covers depot-level inspection and maintenance for the Navy's P8I reconnaissance aircraft fleet. These agreements enhance air defence and support the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Key Points: India Signs Rs 858 Cr Defence Deals for Tunguska, P8I Aircraft

  • Rs 445 cr Tunguska missile deal with Russia
  • Rs 413 cr P8I maintenance pact with Boeing
  • Boosts air defence against drones, aircraft
  • Strengthens indigenous MRO under 'Make-in-India'
  • Enhances maritime reconnaissance in Indo-Pacific
2 min read

India inks Rs 858 crore defence deals for Tunguska missiles, P81 aircraft inspection

India inks two defence contracts worth Rs 858 crore for Russian Tunguska air defence missiles and Boeing P8I aircraft maintenance, boosting indigenous capabilities.

"These state-of-the-art missiles will enhance India's multi-layered air defence capabilities - Ministry of Defence"

New Delhi, March 27

The Ministry of Defence on Friday signed contracts, worth a total of Rs 858 crore, for the procurement of the cutting-edge Russian Tunguska Air Defence Missile System and a maintenance contract with Boeing for the depot-level inspection of P8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft of the Indian Navy.

The agreements were inked at Kartavya Bhawan-2 here in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and senior officials.

The contract for the procurement of Tunguska Air Defence Missile Systems, valued at Rs 445 crore, for the Indian Army, was signed with Russia's JSC Rosoboronexport. These state-of-the-art missiles will enhance India's multi-layered air defence capabilities against aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles. The agreement will further strengthen the Indo-Russian strategic defence partnership, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.

The contract for the Inspection (Depot Level) of P8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft for the Indian Navy under "Buy Indian" category with 100 per cent indigenous content, valued at Rs 413 crore, was signed with Boeing India Defense Private Ltd, a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of Boeing, in the presence of senior officials of the Ministry of Defence. This contract will ensure depot-level maintenance of the P8I fleet at the in-country MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facility, which is in line with the government's commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India, the statement said.

The Boeing P-8I Poseidon is the Indian Navy's advanced, long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. Known as the "guardian of the Indian Ocean," it operates 12 units for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and anti-ship missions, with plans to acquire six more to bolster maritime domain awareness and counter regional threats.

The P-8I is a variant of the US Navy's P-8A Poseidon, with India being the first international customer, making it a critical asset in the Indo-Pacific region

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The P8I maintenance deal with Boeing's Indian subsidiary is a smart move. Keeping the maintenance in-country saves time and money, and builds local expertise. These aircraft are crucial for watching over our vast coastline and the Indian Ocean. Safety first!
R
Rohit P
Rs 858 crore is a huge amount. While defence is important, I sometimes wonder if a fraction of this could also be directed towards modernizing our police forces or border infrastructure. Just a thought for balanced development.
S
Sarah B
The P-8I is such a formidable platform. "Guardian of the Indian Ocean" is the right name for it. With the regional situation, enhancing maritime surveillance is non-negotiable. Good step.
V
Vikram M
Strengthening ties with Russia while also working with US companies like Boeing shows India's strategic autonomy. We need the best equipment from wherever we can get it to protect our borders. Jai Hind!
K
Karthik V
Hope the Tunguska deal includes a good transfer of technology clause. We've been buying from Russia for decades; it's high time our DRDO and private sector absorb and innovate on these platforms to become truly self-reliant.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50