Defense ministry approves ₹858 crore deal for Missiles and reconnaissance aircraft support
India signs ₹858 crore defence deal for Tunguska missiles and P-8I aircraft maintenance, boosting air defence and promoting indigenous capabilities under Make in India.
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Indian Ministry of Defence has taken a major step to strengthen national security by approving two key defence contracts worth ₹858 crore. The agreements include the procurement of Tunguska air defence missile systems and maintenance support for P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. According to the ministry, both contracts were signed at Kartavya Bhavan-2 in New Delhi, significantly boosting the combat capability of the armed forces.
Air defence strength to increase with Tunguska missiles
To enhance the Indian Army’s air defence capabilities, a deal worth ₹445 crore has been finalized for the procurement of Tunguska air defence missile systems. The agreement was signed with JSC Rosoboronexport in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
These advanced missile systems are capable of neutralizing a wide range of aerial threats, including enemy fighter jets, drones, and cruise missiles. The deal is expected to strengthen India’s multi-layered air defence system while further reinforcing strategic defence ties with Russia.
Indigenous maintenance of P-8I aircraft under ‘Buy India’ category
In addition to air defence, a separate contract worth ₹413 crore has been signed for depot-level inspection and maintenance of the Indian Navy’s P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. This agreement has been signed with Boeing India Defense Private Limited under the ‘Buy India’ category, ensuring the use of 100% indigenous content.
Maintenance to be carried out within India
With this agreement, depot-level maintenance of the P-8I fleet will now be carried out entirely within India at domestic MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facilities. Earlier, such high-level maintenance depended on foreign service providers.
The Defence Ministry stated that this move aligns with the government’s push for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’, reducing dependency on foreign support while strengthening domestic defence capabilities.