BEL bags contract to supply 7 long range surface-to-air missile systems to Indian Navy

State-run Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has bagged order worth Rs. 9,200 crore for supply of seven Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) systems to Indian Navy. In this regard, it has entered into a contract with Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).  The LRSAM will be fitted onboard seven ships to be built by these two shipbuilders. This was highest-ever single value order bagged by BEL. This contract has pushed order book of BEL beyond Rs 50,000 crore for the first time in single financial year,

Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM)

LRSAM has long-range engagement capability to penetrate deep water and land to intercept all types of aerial targets like subsonic and supersonic missiles, fighter aircraft, maritime patrolling aircraft (MPA), helicopter and sea skimming missiles. It is capable of countering newest generation anti-ship missiles.
Indian Navy has decided to equip its all naval ships such as INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, and INS Chennai guided missile destroyers with Barak 8 LRSAM for air and missile defense. Barak 8 LRSAM has been jointly developed by DRDO and IAI, Israel to be launched from ship. It possesses high degree of maneuverability at target interception range. It has maximum speed of Mach 2 with maximum operational range of 70 km (which has been increased to 100 km).

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)

BEL is state-owned leading defence electronics company. It is one of nine PSUs under the Union Ministry of Defence of India. It has been accorded Navratna status. It is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. BEL is engaged in design, manufacture and supply of state-of-the-art radars like weapon locating radar and battle field surveillance radar, communication systems, naval systems, electronic warfare systems, missile systems, tank electronics and gun/weapon systems, coastal surveillance system etc for armed forces.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2018