Defence Ministry Seals Rs 697 Cr Deal For 1,868 Rough Terrain Fork Lift Trucks

(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Feb 21 (KNN) The Ministry of Defence has finalised contracts worth Rs 697.35 crore for the acquisition of 1,868 Rough Terrain Fork Lift Trucks (RTFLT), marking a significant advancement in India's defence procurement strategy.

The equipment, designated for deployment across the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy, will enhance operational capabilities by streamlining combat and logistics support operations through automated materials handling.

This procurement initiative, executed under the "Buy Indian" category, represents a strategic move to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.

The project is expected to generate substantial employment opportunities, particularly within the MSME sector, through the development of component manufacturing ecosystems.

According to the Defence Ministry, this investment aligns with the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, demonstrating a commitment to indigenous defence production.

The transformation in India's defence manufacturing landscape is evidenced by remarkable growth figures, with domestic defence production reaching Rs 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24.

This represents a substantial increase of 174 percent from Rs 46,429 crore in 2014-15.

The sector has witnessed a paradigm shift from its historical dependence on imports, which previously accounted for 65-70 percent of defence equipment, to achieving approximately 65 percent domestic manufacturing capability.

Further strengthening this indigenous momentum, state-owned enterprises like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are poised for technological advancement through international collaboration.

A forthcoming agreement between India and the United States will enable HAL to manufacture advanced GE engines for military aircraft, showcasing the growing sophistication of India's defence manufacturing capabilities.

The government's strategic focus on boosting domestic defence production has resulted in expanding order books for Indian defence equipment manufacturers, indicating positive growth prospects for the sector.

This latest RTFLT procurement reinforces the ministry's commitment to modernising India's defence infrastructure while simultaneously promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

(KNN Bureau)

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