**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts on March 03, 2026, worth Rs 5,083 crore for the acquisition of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles for the Indian Navy. These procurements aim to significantly enhance maritime security and air defence capabilities.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Contract Value and Date:** Total contract value of Rs 5,083 crore signed on March 03, 2026.
* **Acquisition 1: ALH Mk-III (MR)**
* Six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard.
* Contract value: Rs 2,901 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
* Includes operational role equipment, engineering support, and performance-based logistics.
* Acquisition category: Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured).
* Features: Twin-engine, state-of-the-art, superior to current platforms.
* Capabilities: Undertake maritime security missions from shore and sea.
* Enhancements: Improves Indian Coast Guard's ability to protect artificial islands, offshore installations, fishermen, and the marine environment.
* Economic Impact: Envisages supply from over 200 MSMEs, generating approximately 65 lakh man-hours of employment.
* Alignment: Reinforces Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India initiatives.
* **Acquisition 2: Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles**
* Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles and associated missile holding frames for the Indian Navy.
* Contract value: Rs 2,182 crore with JSC Rosoboronexport, Russian Federation.
* Objective: Substantially enhance air defence capabilities of frontline warships against aerial threats.
* Capabilities: Reinforces layered air defence architecture with rapid-reaction, all-weather engagement.
* Partnership: Underscores defence partnership between India and Russia.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Coast Guard**
* **Impact:** Enhanced capability for maritime security missions, including safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore installations, fishermen, and the marine environment.
* **Action Required:** Integration and operationalization of the six new ALH Mk-III (MR) helicopters.
**Indian Navy**
* **Impact:** Substantially enhanced air defence capabilities of frontline warships through the acquisition of Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles, providing rapid-reaction, all-weather engagement.
* **Action Required:** Integration and operationalization of the Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles.
**Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)**
* **Impact:** Awarded a significant contract for the supply of ALH Mk-III (MR) helicopters, equipment, and support packages.
* **Action Required:** Manufacture and supply of helicopters, associated equipment, and support as per contract terms.
**JSC Rosoboronexport, Russian Federation**
* **Impact:** Contracted for the supply of Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles and associated missile holding frames.
* **Action Required:** Supply of missiles and holding frames as per contract terms.
**Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to supply equipment for the ALH Mk-III (MR) project, contributing to their growth.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the supply chain for the ALH Mk-III (MR) project.
**Domestic Employment**
* **Impact:** Expected to generate approximately 65 lakh man-hours of employment through the ALH Mk-III (MR) project.
* **Action Required:** N/A (This is an outcome of the project).
Key Entities Referenced
ALH Mk-III (MR): Advanced Light Helicopters (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard
Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles: Surface-to-Air missiles for the Indian Navy
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Government initiative focusing on self-reliance
Make-in-India: Government initiative to boost domestic manufacturing
Ministry of Defence: Government ministry responsible for defense procurement
Ministry of Defence
MoD inks Rs 5,083 crore contracts for ALH Mk-III
(MR) & VL-Shtil missiles
Posted On: 03 MAR 2026 3:22PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Defence, on March 03, 2026, signed contracts worth a total of Rs 5,083 crore for the
acquisition of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard
and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles for the Indian Navy. The contracts were inked in the
presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block, New Delhi.
ALH Mk-III (MR)
The contract for ALH Mk-III (MR) along with operational role equipment, an engineering support
package, and performance-based logistics support, valued at Rs 2,901 crore, has been inked with
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and
Manufactured) category.
These twin-engine helicopters incorporate state-of-the-art features superior to the currently operated
airborne platforms and are capable of undertaking a wide spectrum of maritime security missions from
shore-based airfields as well as from ships at sea. The induction will significantly enhance the Indian
Coast Guard’s capability for fulfilling the duties of safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore
installations, and protection of fishermen & marine environment.
The project envisages supply of equipment from more than 200 MSMEs and is expected to generate
approximately 65 lakh man-hours of employment. The contract reinforces the Government’s commitment
to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make-in-India initiative, while further strengthening the nation’s
maritime security architecture.
Vertical Launch - Shtil missilesThe contract for the procurement of Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles and associated missile
holding frames, valued at Rs 2,182 crore, has been signed with JSC Rosoboronexport, Russian Federation.
The acquisition is intended to substantially enhance the air defence capabilities of frontline warships
against a wide spectrum of aerial threats.
The system will reinforce the layered air defence architecture onboard the platforms of the Indian Navy by
providing rapid-reaction, all-weather engagement capability and improved survivability in contested
maritime environments. The contract further underscores the longstanding and time-tested defence
partnership between India and Russia, founded on mutual trust and strategic alignment.
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VK/Savvy
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