India’s Ministry of Defence has signed agreements worth nearly Rs 4,106 crore to procure a ‘Made-in-India’ communication satellite for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and heavyweight torpedoes, named Varunastra, for the Indian Navy. The deals bolster India’s defence strength in space and underwater combat.
The GSAT-7C contract of Rs 2,563 crore was signed with New Space India Limited (NSIL). This satellite shall be designed, developed, and manufactured in India and would enable the IAF to have a secure, resilient, and seamless communication network. Reliable Satellite Communications are critical for coordination of aircraft, ground stations, and operational assets over scattered areas.
The second contract, valued at Rs 1,543 crore, was granted to Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for Varunastra heavyweight torpedoes. The Varunastra is a domestically produced ship-launched anti-submarine missile with high manoeuvring characteristics, built by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), to attack opposing submarines at great range.
They align with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat programme to bolster the country’s defence industry and cut reliance on imports of vital military equipment. The deal points to India’s simultaneous procurement of state-of-the-art underwater wars as well as modern secure military communications. How effective they are commercially will depend on the execution, integration, and delivery dates.
