The Ministry of Defence last Tuesday signed two major contracts worth ₹5,083 crore for the procurement of Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III for the Indian Coast Guard and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch – Shtil missile systems for the Indian Navy.
The agreements were signed at South Block in the presence of Rajesh Kumar Singh, the Defence Secretary of India.
A contract worth ₹2,901 crore has been awarded to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, headquartered in Bengaluru, for the supply of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III in the Maritime Role. The deal also includes operational role equipment, an engineering support package, and performance-based logistics support.
According to the Defence Ministry, the procurement falls under the category of indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured equipment, reinforcing the government’s Make in India initiative and the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The twin-engine ALH Mk-III helicopters are equipped with advanced features that surpass currently deployed airborne platforms. They are capable of conducting a wide range of maritime security missions from both shore-based airfields and ships at sea. Their induction is expected to significantly enhance the Coast Guard’s operational capability in protecting offshore installations, artificial islands, and fishermen, as well as safeguarding the marine environment.
The project is also expected to boost domestic industry participation, with equipment supplies coming from more than 200 MSMEs, generating an estimated 65 lakh man-hours of employment.
In a separate agreement, the Defence Ministry signed a ₹2,182-crore contract with JSC Rosoboronexport, a state-run defence exporter of Russia, for the procurement of Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch – Shtil missile systems along with associated missile holding frames.
The acquisition is aimed at significantly strengthening the air defence capabilities of frontline warships of the Indian Navy. The Shtil system will enhance the Navy’s layered air defence architecture by providing rapid-reaction, all-weather engagement capability against a wide range of aerial threats, thereby improving the survivability of naval platforms in contested maritime environments.
The agreement also highlights the longstanding defence partnership between India and Russia, built on mutual trust and strategic cooperation.
Together, the two contracts are expected to enhance India’s maritime security and naval defence preparedness, while also supporting domestic manufacturing and employment generation within the defence ecosystem.
