BEL IAF Contract: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has secured a Rs 2,463 crore contract from the Ministry of Defence to supply state-of-the-art Ashwini Radars to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The company announced this major order in an exchange filing on March 12.
The Ashwini Radars, developed jointly by BEL and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), are advanced, mobile radar systems capable of 4D surveillance. These radars are designed to operate on all terrains, making them highly versatile for India’s diverse geographical needs.
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According to BEL, the Ashwini Radars can detect and track a wide range of aerial threats, from high-speed fighter jets to slow-moving targets like drones and helicopters.
According to Money Control, this contract for the Low-Level Transportable Radar (LLTR) has pushed BEL’s total order book to Rs 17,030 crore for the financial year 2025. The Ministry of Defence highlighted that the Ashwini Radar is an active electronically scanned phased array radar, built using cutting-edge solid-state technology. It is capable of tracking various aerial targets, including fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and helicopters.
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The government emphasized that this acquisition will significantly enhance the operational preparedness of the Indian Air Force. In an official statement, the Ministry of Defence called the Ashwini Radar program a major step toward achieving self-reliance in defense manufacturing, aligning with the “Make in India” initiative.
Despite the announcement of this high-value contract, BEL’s shares closed slightly lower on March 12, with the news coming after market hours.
