The North News
New Delhi, April 7
In a significant boost to domestic defence manufacturing, Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹2,385.36 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru, for the supply and installation of Electronic Warfare (EW) Suites on Indian Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopters. The contract, categorised under Buy (Indian – Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured), was finalised in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi on 7 April. It includes EW Suite systems, modification kits for the aircraft, and installation services, along with associated equipment.
According to officials, the advanced EW Suite is designed to dramatically improve the survivability of the Mi-17 V5 fleet in contested airspace. The new systems will equip the helicopters with modern electronic countermeasures to detect, jam, or evade potential threats in hostile operational scenarios.
A substantial portion of the components, sub-assemblies, and equipment will be sourced from Indian manufacturers, aligning with the government’s push for self-reliance under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives. The Ministry said the project will promote significant engagement from domestic industries, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), in the defence electronics sector.
Describing the suite as a “leap forward” in building indigenous EW capabilities, the Ministry hailed the deal as a strategic step toward strengthening India’s defence readiness while reducing dependency on imports.
