&w=3840&q=100)
India's defence orders soar post-Operation Sindoor, acquisitions fast-tracked with Rs 400 bn push
Advertisement
Indian Army shows a demonstration of how Indian Air Defence systems saved the Golden Temple in Amritsar and cities of Punjab from Pakistani missile and drone attacks. X/@ANI
India has set the stage to witness a record-breaking year of defence acquisitions after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) greenlit emergency procurement (EP) contracts worth Rs 400 billion post Operation Sindoor.
The fast-tracked acquisitions will ensure the enhancement of the military's operational readiness across key domains. The MoD recently approved the 13 contracts under EP of Rs 20 billion for various platforms, while the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has authorised Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 10 proposals worth Rs 1,050 billion.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'These procurements will provide higher mobility, effective air defence, better supply chain management and augment the operational preparedness of the Armed Forces,' the ministry said in a statement.
June saw the most clearances
India's defence is moving at a fast pace, with the ministry clearing a number of high-value contracts and projects in June alone, indicating a new phase of rapid and strategic capability enhancement.
Some of these contracts include 10 proposals worth Rs 1,050 billion that have been accorded for AoN by DAC, 13 contracts for emergency procurement of Rs 19.8 billion and the acquisitions of 155mm precision-guided munitions for howitzers.
Private sector gets a boost
Amid growing emphasis on strengthening domestic defence capabilities, the government is focusing on using its purchasing power to drive indigenous production. Authorities have reached out to industry bodies and private defence firms to encourage greater involvement in manufacturing critical military equipment.
In the context of Operation Sindoor, this push is expected to prioritise the production of artillery guns, missiles, loitering and precision-guided munitions, and military-grade drones.
According to a report by the Indian Express, the government is likely to expand a model where public sector undertakings (PSUs) lead research and development, sometimes in partnership with private firms, while production is handed over to private companies.
This approach was used for the DRDO-designed 5.56x45mm CQB Carbine, now being produced by Bharat Forge after a tender. For drones, the plan is to identify up to five civilian drone makers with the potential to scale up to military-grade production, and support them with technology partnerships and guidance on future orders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
19 minutes ago
- The Hindu
U.S. tariff impact not to last more than six months, says CEA Anantha Nageswaran
Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran on Wednesday (August 13, 2025) said U.S. tariffs-related challenges will dissipate in the next one or two quarters, and urged the private sector to do more as the country navigates through other longer-term challenges. He attributed the growth slowdown in FY25, which saw a deceleration to 6.5 per cent from FY24's 9.2 per cent, to tight credit conditions and liquidity issues. The right agriculture policies can add 25 per cent to real GDP growth, Mr. Nageswaran added. On the U.S. tariffs, the CEA said it is the second and third order impacts, which will flow once sectors like gems and jewellery, shrimps and textiles have taken the first order brunt, that will be "more difficult" to tackle. The government is aware of the situation and conversations with the impacted sectors have already begun, Mr. Nageswaran said, adding that one will hear from the policymakers in the coming days and weeks but people have to be patient. With speculation on whether U.S. officials will visit India for trade talks later this month as reported, Mr. Nageswaran said the upcoming meet in Alaska between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladmir Putin is likely to influence the outcome. Declining to spell out any details on the trade negotiations between India and the U.S., the academic-turned-advisor said things are very fluid at the world stage right now with relations swinging from cooperation to stalemate, and spelled out his expectation of the impact of 50 per cent US tariff on Indian exports. "I do believe that the current situation will ease out in a quarter or two. I don't think that from a long-term picture, the India impact will be that significant but in the short run, there will be some impact," he said. He said no one can guess the exact reasons why President Donald Trump chose to slap the high tariffs on India, wondering if it's the fallout of Operation Sindoor or something even more strategic. However, the CEA said the focus on tariff-related issues should not blind us to more "important challenges", including the impact of artificial intelligence, reliance on one country for critical minerals, and their processing and strengthening of supply chains. Mr. Nageswaran exhorted the private sector to do more "as we navigate these longer-term challenges, promising that public policy will play the facilitator's role". "Private sector also has a lot of thinking to do, given the massive strategic challenges we face in the coming years... the private sector also has to think about the long-term rather than the next quarter, which is what might have led to many of the challenges we are currently beginning to face," he said in the comments aimed at India Inc. He, however, did not elaborate on the subject any further. Stating that the government has allocated money towards the research purposes, he said it is now for the private sector to up their investments in the area. The Indian youth is staring at both physical and health health issues arising from excess screen use, consumption of ultra processed food, etc, which is leading to anxieties and even suicidal thoughts among people, the CEA said, seeking the private sector's help to tackle the challenge. He welcomed the capital expenditure put in by the private sector in FY26 and data to be released in February next year will attest to the same. The consumption story is "quite healthy", the CEA said, pointing to the data on UPI usage. Specifically on urban consumption, he rued that there is no proper data source to capture services consumption, and added that drawing from listed companies' earnings may also not be the right measure as consumption is moving to the unlisted space. The overall resource mobilisation in the economy is not showing any slackening, the CEA said, asking all to look at banks credit growth, commercial paper issuances, and IPO fundraising together. On China On China, Mr. Nageswaran said "we also need to understand the security dimension and look at the $100 billion trade deficit beyond just the number". As a solution, there is a need to diversify the sources of imports and the CEA stressed that the private sector will have a role to play there. Without naming China, he said only one country supplies critical minerals, which are essential for semiconductors, artificial intelligence tech, and added that the supply is "critically unstable". "We cannot go from crude oil import dependence to critical minerals and ladders import dependence. Understand that crude oil (sources) at least is more diversified," he said. "Indian policy makers must choose between accepting permanent strategic dependence on adversaries or committing the resources necessary for genuine support to independence," Nageswaran said. Stating that AI will cause labour displacement, Nageswaran pitched for caution in AI adoption and added that "we will have to choose the areas in which we allow AI to be deployed and harnessed, and also the speed with which we do so". There is a need to create at least 80 lakh new jobs per annum in the next 10-12 years, he added.
Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Hrithik Roshan's firm purchases three office units in Mumbai's Chandivali area for ₹31 crore
Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan and his father Rakesh Roshan's company HRX Digitech LLP has purchased three office units in Mumbai's Chandivali area for ₹31 crore, according to the property registration documents accessed by Propstack. Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan and his father Rakesh Roshan's HRX Digitech LLP bought three Mumbai office units in Chandivali for ₹ 31 crore, Propstack said. (Representational Image)(File Photo ) The three office units are on the first floor of the Boomerang building in the Chandivali area of Andheri East. Documents show that the three office units are spread across an area of 13,546 sq ft, for which an agreement was registered on July 9, 2025. According to the property registration documents, the transaction involved a stamp duty of ₹1.86 crore and registration fees of ₹30,000. The sellers for the transaction include Manish Krishangopal Bazari, Shalini Manish Bazari, and Bazspace Pvt. Ltd. Neither the sellers nor the buyers could be reached for comment. A query sent to HRX Digitech LLP did not receive a response. If a response is received, the story will be updated. Also Read: John Abraham rents out three sea-facing apartments for ₹6.30 lakh per month in Mumbai's Bandra area Five office units bought last year by Hrithik Roshan and the Rakesh Roshan firm According to the property registration documents accessed by Propstack, the Roshan family entity bought five office units on the fifth floor of the same building in September 2024 for ₹37.75 crore. The five office units, spread across 17,389 sq ft carpet area, were purchased on September 5, 2024, after paying a stamp duty of ₹2.26 crore and a registration fee of ₹30,000, documents accessed by Propstack showed. According to property registration documents, Hrithik Roshan and his father, Rakesh Roshan, were also in the news last year for selling three residential apartments for ₹6.75 crore in Mumbai's Andheri area. Also Read: Hrithik Roshan and father Rakesh Roshan sell three apartments in Mumbai's Andheri for ₹6.75 crore Documents show that the three apartments measure close to 2,000 sq ft and have been sold in two different buildings. In the first transaction, Rakesh Roshan sold a 1,025 sq ft apartment in a building named Veejays Niwas CHS Limited in Andheri West. The property, along with two parking spaces, was sold to Sonali Ajmera for Rs. 3.75 crore. The transaction was registered on May 25, involving a stamp duty payment of Rs. 18.75 lakh and registration charges of ₹30,000, documents show. In the second transaction, Rakesh Roshan sold a 625 sq ft apartment in a building named Raheja Classique in Andheri West for Rs. 2.20 crore to three individuals named Jeevan Bhavanani, Shilpa Wadhwani, and Gaurav Wadhwani. The transaction was registered on May 17, and a stamp duty payment of Rs. 13.20 lakh and registration charges of Rs. 30,000 were paid for it.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
19 minutes ago
- First Post
Forging the shield: How SMPP is leading India's defence revolution
With its roots in deep engineering and a clear mission to strengthen India's self-reliance in defence, SMPP's journey is a testament to the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat In the rugged terrains of Kashmir, along the high-altitude borders of Ladakh, and across the dense forests of central India, Indian soldiers face grave risks every day. Amidst these dangers, a silent yet robust layer of protection stands between life and death: state-of-the-art bulletproof gear. Behind much of this armour is one Indian company quietly revolutionising defence manufacturing—SMPP Ltd. With its roots in deep engineering and a clear mission to strengthen India's self-reliance in defence, SMPP's journey is a testament to the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat. From being a pioneer in ballistic protection to venturing into drones and large-calibre ammunition, the company, led by its CEO Mr. Ashish Kansal, has carved a remarkable trajectory, now culminating in its latest win: the Emergency Procurement 5 (EP-5) order from the Ministry of Defence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The EP-5 Milestone: More Than Just a Contract SMPP's recent EP-5 order involves the supply of 27,700 advanced Bullet Proof Jackets (BPJs) and 11,700 Ballistic Helmets—gear that's capable of withstanding the most lethal armour-piercing (AP) rounds and hard steel-core bullets. Unlike conventional protective gear, these jackets are tested to take six AP shots on a single monolithic plate—far exceeding global benchmarks, which typically require resistance to just one or two such impacts. More from Business How Indian fintech startups are driving Malaysia's UPI-like digital payments revolution This order is not just a business win. It is symbolic of India's maturing defence ecosystem. 'These products are 100% IDDM—Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured,' says Mr. Kansal. 'They reflect not only our commitment to our soldiers but also to the Government of India's vision of a self-reliant nation.' The helmets included in the order use a patented design—granted in India and the U.S.—that offers protection from hard-core rifle rounds, a capability rarely seen even in elite global defence gear. 'A soldier can often survive a body wound, but a bullet to the head is almost always fatal,' explains Kansal. 'That's where our helmet makes all the difference.' Handover Ceremony of 186,138 Nos. Bullet Proof Jackets to Indian Ministry of Defence Building on Three Decades of Innovation Founded over 30 years ago by an IIT graduate, Dr. SC Kansal, SMPP began as an engineering firm and gradually emerged as a specialist in personal armour systems. Its first vertical—armour protection for personnel and platforms—was quickly followed by a second: the manufacturing of artillery ammunition. Carrying forward the legacy under the leadership of Mr. Ashish Kansal, himself an IITian, SMPP is now venturing into a third vertical, drones and counter-drone systems, with several products already tested and cleared by Army Headquarters. 'Our vision is to work across as many critical technologies as possible,' says Kansal. 'Whether it's soldier protection, firepower, or new-age surveillance, we want to be a catalyst in India's march toward Atmanirbharta.' Indeed, SMPP has already supplied over 1.86 lakh bulletproof jackets and 2 lakh ballistic helmets to the Indian Army and paramilitary forces. Its past victories include sweeping all four contracts under the earlier Emergency Procurement 4 (EP-4) initiative—ranging from jackets and helmets to ballistic shields, including a customised version of helmets for Sikh soldiers, a first in Indian defence manufacturing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Science Behind the Shield What sets SMPP apart is its relentless focus on research and innovation. With a strong in-house R&D team, the company is constantly working to stay ahead of evolving battlefield threats. 'Our gear is not static,' explains Kansal. 'We update based on changing ammunition threats, soldier comfort, and operational requirements.' Take, for example, their use of CaraSTOP-B4C—an in-house manufactured boron carbide ceramic, among the hardest materials known to science. This ceramic is not only used in SMPP's ballistic gear but also in India's major military helicopters and globally deployed transport aircraft. To ensure uniform quality, each batch of this ceramic undergoes a proprietary X-ray screening process—designed to detect microscopic defects like air gaps, internal cracks, or low-density pockets. 'It took years of data and experimentation to get it right,' says Kansal. 'But we're now confident that what we produce meets the highest standards—Indian or international.' SMPP's gear also meets and exceeds global norms, including BIS Level 6 and NIJ Level III+, offering protection against AP rounds and AK-47 hard steel-core bullets. Many of these innovations are protected under patents; out of 17 patent filings, nine have already been granted, including the game-changing ballistic helmet design. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A Truly Indian Defence Story For Kansal, SMPP is not just a business; it's a mission rooted in national pride. 'Atmanirbhar Bharat is not just a slogan for us,' he says. 'It's our daily mantra.' SMPP's achievements in the 'Make in India' story go well beyond domestic contracts. Its exports span over 25 countries, including Armenia, Colombia, the Philippines, France, Germany, Brazil, and the USA. Notable among these is the supply of 60,000 ballistic helmets and 45,000 bulletproof plates to Armenia, and a major vehicle armouring project for Colombia—both accomplished with uncompromising quality and precision. And SMPP is not stopping there. A sprawling 800-acre facility is under construction in Himachal Pradesh for the indigenous manufacturing of large-calibre ammunition. The company has already secured industrial licenses for tanks, artillery, mortars, and infantry-support weapons. 'This move will help India reduce imports in a sector that provides strategic deterrence,' says Kansal. Hosted General Saïd Chanegriha, Chief of Staff of the People's National Army, Algeria Innovation Through Inclusion SMPP's commitment to inclusivity is also visible in its product design. For instance, its specially developed ballistic helmets for Sikh soldiers reflect a deep understanding of operational comfort and cultural sensitivities. 'The design includes a discreet rise to accommodate the turban comfortably while blending seamlessly with standard combat attire,' explains Kansal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This philosophy extends to all of SMPP's R&D: protection without compromise on comfort. From dynamic weight distribution systems to high-buoyancy jackets for riverine and amphibious operations, the company's products are made to adapt to the unique physical and tactical demands of Indian forces. The Roadblocks Ahead—and the Way Forward Despite its successes, Kansal acknowledges the systemic challenges that still plague the Indian defence industry—especially for MSMEs. 'Sustaining defence manufacturing is not easy,' he says. 'Without long-term contracts, the business becomes cyclical. The single-buyer nature of defence procurement means every new order comes with a fresh round of trials and tests, often in complex, highly competitive environments.' He believes the solution lies in deeper collaboration between the public and private sectors. 'We've built a vast ecosystem of defence PSUs over the decades. It's time to leverage their scale and our agility together. The goal should not be who leads the project, but how to co-create the best, most competitive product globally.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Welcoming Mr. Salvador Melchor B. Mison, Jr., Undersecretary for Acquisition and Resource Management, Department of National Defense, Philippines The Journey So Far, and the Road Ahead For Kansal, there have been many defining moments—the accolades from Defence Ministers, the patents granted, and the international wins. But if he had to choose one, it would be the landmark contract to supply 1,86,138 bulletproof jackets to the Indian Army. 'That changed everything for us. It was our moonshot.' As he reflects on the company's journey, his thoughts turn to the next generation. 'My message to young engineers and innovators is simple,' he says, quoting Robert Frost: 'The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.' 'With emerging fields like AI, quantum computing, and robotics redefining warfare, India needs you. But we also need to make the system faster—less red tape, more responsiveness—if we are to truly unlock our nation's potential.' Conclusion: Towards Viksit Bharat As India celebrates its 78th Independence Day, companies like SMPP are laying the foundation for a secure, self-reliant, and technologically advanced future. In a world where the lines between warzones and peacetimes are increasingly blurred, SMPP's mission is clear: empower our soldiers, strengthen national defence, and build for the world, from India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Because in the fight for sovereignty, the greatest weapon is self-belief. And the strongest armour is the one built at home.
