By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI:The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth a total of approximately Rs 4,106 crore for the acquisition of a dedicated communication satellite capability, GSAT-7C for the Indian Air Force, and Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy.
The contract for GSAT-7C, valued at Rs 2,563 crore, was inked with New Space India Limited, Bengaluru. This indigenously designed, developed & manufactured satellite will enhance the secure, resilient & seamless communication capabilities for the assets of the Indian Air Force, thereby strengthening operational effectiveness.
The contract for Varunastra was signed with Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad worth Rs 1,543 crore. Varunastra is an indigenous ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory. Equipped with advanced maneuvering capabilities, it is capable of engaging enemy submarines at long ranges, thereby enhancing the anti-submarine warfare capability of the Indian Navy.
The contracts were signed in the presence of Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence Shri A Anbarasu in New Delhi on October 15, 2026. Both contracts mark a significant step towards advancing the development of domestic defence manufacturing capabilities while promoting self-reliance in critical technologies in line with the Government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make-in-India’ vision.
