On Thursday, the Defence Ministry finalized contracts worth Rs 1,917 crore to bolster the capabilities of India's armed forces. A significant portion of this investment, Rs 1,220 crore, is allocated for 149 software-defined radios (SDRs) for the Indian Coast Guard. These SDRs, procured from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in the presence of Defence Secretary R K Singh, will facilitate secure and reliable information sharing, collaboration, and situational awareness through high-speed data and secure voice communication. This upgrade is set to enhance the Coast Guard's core responsibilities, including maritime law enforcement, search and rescue operations, fisheries protection, and marine environment protection. Moreover, the new radios will improve interoperability for joint operations with the Indian Navy, marking a transition from single-purpose radios to multi-band, multi-mode, and multi-role systems with secure networking capabilities for seamless maritime operations.

In addition, the Ministry has signed a Rs 697 crore contract for the acquisition of 1,868 rough terrain forklift trucks. These vehicles, to be supplied by ACE Ltd and JCB India Ltd, are intended for the Army, Air Force, and Navy. The introduction of these trucks aims to reduce manual handling of vast quantities of stores, thereby enhancing operational effectiveness in various combat and logistics support tasks. This procurement underscores the Ministry's commitment to modernizing equipment and improving the efficiency of the armed forces.