The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹1,950-crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) on March 31, 2026, for two mountain radar systems for the Air Force. The agreement was formalised in New Delhi in the presence of senior officials from both the Ministry and BEL.
The radars, designed and developed by the Electronics & Radar Development Establishment under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will be manufactured by BEL. Built for high-altitude and mountainous terrain, they will enhance surveillance and detection along sensitive border areas.
Officials said the installation and commissioning of the systems will strengthen India’s air defence network and improve operational readiness of the Air Force.
The procurement aligns with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign defence equipment while boosting domestic manufacturing capabilities.
On March 27, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved capital acquisition proposals totaling about ₹2.38 lakh crore. These include air defence tracked systems, armour-piercing tank ammunition, high-capacity radio relay systems, the Dhanush Gun System, and runway-independent aerial surveillance systems, designed to improve real-time air defence, secure communication, long-range artillery capability, battlefield surveillance, and anti-tank effectiveness.
