Defence ministry signs ₹4,666 crore contracts for CQB carbines, heavy weight torpedoes

The Ministry of Defence on Tuesday, December 30, signed contracts worth a total of ₹4,666 crore for the procurement of Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines and Heavy Weight Torpedoes to boost the combat capabilities of the armed forces.

Under the agreements, contracts worth ₹2,770 crore were signed for the supply of over 4.25 lakh CQB Carbines along with accessories for the Indian Army and the Indian Navy, the ministry said in a statement.

The contracts were signed with Bharat Forge Ltd and PLR Systems Pvt Ltd in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block in New Delhi.

The CQB Carbines, which will replace legacy systems, are designed to enhance lethality in close combat situations through a compact design and a high rate of fire, providing an operational edge in confined spaces.

The procurement is in line with the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and Make-in-India initiatives and is expected to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing, including participation by MSMEs, while also generating employment, the statement said.

A contract worth about ₹1,896 crore was signed with WASS Submarine Systems S.R.L., Italy, for the procurement and integration of 48 Heavy Weight Torpedoes along with associated equipment for the Indian Navy’s Kalvari-class submarines under Project-75.

The acquisition is aimed at enhancing the combat capability of the Navy’s six Kalvari-class submarines.

Deliveries of the torpedoes are scheduled to begin in April 2028 and are expected to be completed by early 2030.

According to the ministry, the torpedoes feature advanced technological capabilities and the procurement reflects the government’s focus on meeting the Navy’s operational requirements through the induction of niche technologies and advanced weapon systems.

In the current financial year 2025-26, the Ministry of Defence has signed capital acquisition contracts worth ₹1,82,492 crore for the modernisation of the armed forces, the statement added.