The Ministry of Defence has finalized a deal with Bharat Forge Limited, Pune, for the procurement of 12 sets of 1.25 MW Marine Gas Turbine Generators for the Indian Navy. The contract, valued at approximately Rs 425 crore, emphasizes a minimum 60 per cent indigenous content and falls under the Buy (Indian) category. This move aligns with the government’s focus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India initiatives, fostering a strong domestic manufacturing environment.
The contract signing ceremony, attended by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, signifies a crucial advancement in establishing the country’s indigenous capacity for manufacturing marine gas turbine generators. The Ministry of Defence highlighted that this development will not only boost maritime self-reliance in key strategic technologies but also enhance the operational readiness of the Indian Navy through local production and comprehensive life-cycle support. These generators play a vital role in powering essential combat systems and advanced weaponry and sensors on modern Naval vessels.
The recent emphasis on domestic defense equipment production to promote Make in India aligns with the government’s broader objectives. Notably, India’s annual defense production surged to a record high of Rs 1.78 lakh crore in the last fiscal year, marking a substantial 15.6 per cent growth from the previous year and a remarkable 110 per cent increase since FY 2020-21. The indigenous defense production has seen a nearly fourfold increase from Rs 43,746 crore in FY 2013-14, as reported by the Defence Ministry. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attributed this achievement to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and commended the collaborative efforts of the Department of Defence Production and both public and private sectors for reaching this milestone.
