Defence ministry seals ₹697.35 crore deal with ACE Ltd, JCB India for rough terrain forklifts

The Ministry of Defence on Thursday signed contracts worth ₹697.35 crore with ACE Ltd and JCB India Ltd for the procurement of 1,868 Rough Terrain Fork Lift Trucks (RTFLT) for the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy.

The contracts were signed in the presence of Defence Secretary R K Singh, the ministry said in a statement.

RTFLT is a “critical equipment which will assist in various combat and logistics support tasks by avoiding manual handling of enormous number of stores and thus enhancing the operational effectiveness” of the armed forces, the statement said.

The procurement falls under the 'Buy (Indian)' category, aimed at strengthening domestic defence manufacturing capabilities. The project is expected to generate direct and indirect employment, benefiting the MSME sector through component manufacturing, the ministry added.

The defence ministry also signed a ₹1,220.12 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the procurement of 149 Software Defined Radios (SDRs) for the Indian Coast Guard.

The contract will equip the Coast Guard with advanced communication systems to enhance secure and high-speed data sharing, voice communication, and situational awareness.

“The SDRs will bolster the Coast Guard's capability in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, fisheries protection, and marine environmental conservation. They will also improve interoperability for joint operations with the Indian Navy,” the ministry said.

Earlier this month, the ministry signed contracts worth ₹10,147 crore with Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), Munitions India Limited (MIL), and BEL for the procurement of advanced rockets and software upgrades for the PINAKA Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).

Under the deal, EEL and MIL will supply Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type-1 (DPICM) and High Explosive Pre-Fragmented (HEPF) Mk-1 (Enhanced) rockets, while BEL will upgrade the SHAKTI software.

ADM Type-1 is designed to disperse multiple sub-munitions over a large area, targeting mechanised forces and personnel. The HEPF Mk-1 (Enhanced) rockets offer extended range and improved precision for deep-strike operations.

In January, the ministry signed a ₹2,960 crore deal with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM) for the Indian Navy, which is expected to generate about 3.5 lakh man-days of employment in the defence sector.