MoD Inks ₹2,385.36 Crore Deal with BEL to Equip Mi-17 V5 Helicopters with Advanced EW Suites.
Defence
In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a ₹2,385.36 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Bengaluru-based Navratna PSU under the MoD, for the supply and installation of indigenous Electronic Warfare (EW) Suites and aircraft modification kits for the Mi-17 V5 helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- The contract, signed in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, falls under the Buy (Indian–IDDM) category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), promoting indigenous defence manufacturing.
- The Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite includes a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) to detect and identify enemy radar signals, a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) to alert pilots of incoming missile threats, and a Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS) that automatically deploys defensive countermeasures like chaff to mislead radar-guided missiles and flares to divert heat-seeking missiles, significantly enhancing the aircraft's protection and survivability in combat zones.
- The advanced EW Suite has been indigenously designed and developed by DRDO’s Combat Aircraft System Development and Integration Centre (CASDIC), Bengaluru, and will be manufactured by BEL, enhancing India’s self-reliance in defence technologies.The advanced EW Suite has been indigenously designed and developed by DRDO’s Combat Aircraft System Development and Integration Centre (CASDIC), Bengaluru, and will be manufactured by BEL, enhancing India’s self-reliance in defence technologies.
Main Point :- (i) This integrated system will significantly improve the combat survivability of Mi-17 V5 helicopters by enabling them to operate in hostile environments with better protection against threats.
(ii) The project will also foster increased participation from Indian electronics and associated industries, especially encouraging contributions from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
(iii) The Mi-17 V5 is a Russian-origin, multi-role military transport helicopter inducted into the IAF in 2012. It can carry personnel and cargo, has a maximum speed of 250 km/h, and a payload capacity of up to 4,000 kg, making it a crucial component of IAF’s medium-lift fleet.
About Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) : Manoj Jain
Headquarters : Bengaluru, Karnataka
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