Bharat Electronics bags ₹2,385 cr defence deal to equip IAF's Mi-17 V5 helicopters with EW Suite

The Ministry of Defence on Monday signed a contract worth ₹2,385.36 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the acquisition and installation of Electronic Warfare (EW) Suites on Mi-17 V5 helicopters of the Indian Air Force.

The agreement, signed under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category, also includes aircraft modification kits and associated equipment.

The contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in the national capital.

According to the ministry, the state-of-the-art EW Suite will considerably enhance the operational survivability of the helicopters in hostile environments. A majority of the sub-assemblies and components will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers, which will boost and encourage the active participation of Indian electronics and associated industries, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

“The Suite for Mi-17 V5 is a significant leap forward in developing indigenous EW capabilities, making the country Aatmanirbhar in consonance with the Make-in-India initiative,” the ministry said in a statement.

The latest contract adds to a series of recent high-value deals between the Ministry of Defence and BEL to strengthen domestic defence production.

Last month, BEL secured a ₹2,906 crore deal to supply Low-level Transportable Radar (LLTR) ‘Ashwini’ systems to the Indian Air Force. The radar, designed and developed by the DRDO’s Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (ERDE), uses advanced solid-state technology and is capable of tracking a wide array of aerial targets, including fighter jets and UAVs.

Earlier in February, the ministry signed a ₹1,220.12 crore contract with BEL for 149 Software Defined Radios (SDRs) for the Indian Coast Guard. These advanced communication systems are expected to enhance secure data sharing, high-speed voice communication, and situational awareness during operations.