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The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts worth ₹4,666 crore for battle carbines and heavyweight torpedoes. Shares of BEML, BEL, BDL, Bharat Forge and HAL climbed 1–2%, lifting the Nifty India Defence index up 1.3% and snapping a three-day losing streak.
Battle carbines are short guns for close combat, while heavyweight torpedoes are powerful underwater weapons used by submarines.
The deets: the contracts are to procure over 4.25 lakh battle carbines and 48 heavyweight torpedoes.
- ₹2,770 crore worth of carbines were ordered for the Indian Army and Navy from Bharat Forge and PLR Systems
- ₹1,896 crore was allocated to torpedoes for the Indian Navy’s Kalvari-class submarines, sourced from WASS Submarine Systems (Italy)
Why it matters: this gives the Army modern, lighter weapons that improve firepower and safety in close combat.
For the Navy, new heavyweight torpedoes significantly boost underwater attack and defence capabilities, helping submarines detect and destroy enemy threats more effectively. Together, these upgrades strengthen frontline readiness and enhance overall military deterrence.
Big picture: ahead of the union budget, the government has accelerated India’s defence push with a series of big-ticket orders and approvals.
Earlier this week, Defence Acquisition Council approved ₹1,600 crore lease for two more Predator drones, and the clearance of a massive ₹79,000 crore military modernisation project.
