New Delhi, 15 October (H.S.): The Ministry of Defence has signed two contracts worth a combined Rs 4,106 crore for the procurement of the GSAT-7C communication satellite for the Indian Air Force and Varunastra heavyweight torpedoes for the Indian Navy. The agreements were signed with two companies on Thursday.

The indigenously designed, developed and manufactured satellite will enhance secure, robust and uninterrupted communication capabilities for the Indian Air Force’s assets, thereby strengthening its operational effectiveness. Similarly, the Varunastra torpedoes are expected to bolster the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth Rs 2,563 crore with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), based in Bengaluru, for the procurement of the dedicated GSAT-7C communication satellite for the Indian Air Force. Separately, heavyweight Varunastra torpedoes will be procured for the Indian Navy from Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) under a contract valued at Rs 1,543 crore.

Developed by the Navy’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Varunastra is an indigenously developed, ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo. Equipped with advanced manoeuvring capabilities, it can target enemy submarines at long ranges. Its induction is expected to strengthen the Navy’s ability to conduct anti-submarine warfare.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the contracts were signed in New Delhi on Thursday in the presence of A. Ambarasu, Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition) in the Department of Defence Production and Acquisition, as stated in the ministry’s announcement.

Both agreements mark an important step towards strengthening domestic defence manufacturing capabilities and promoting self-reliance in critical technologies. They are also aligned with the Government of India’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar