All About Indian Army's Rs 30,000 Crore Tender to BEL for Anant Shastra Air Defence Missiles For China Borders

The Indian Army has issued a tender worth Rs 30,000 crore to Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for procuring the advanced 'Anant Shastra' air defence missile systems. This move, announced on September 27, 2025, aims to bolster the nation's air defence capabilities along the sensitive borders with Pakistan and China.

The tender involves acquiring five to six regiments of these indigenously developed systems, marking a major step towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The Anant Shastra system, previously known as the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with BEL and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

Defence officials stated that these mobile missile systems are designed to protect moving armoured columns from aerial threats, featuring automated command and control with 360-degree radar coverage. It includes active array battery surveillance and multi-function radars, along with an optical proximity fuze to reduce jamming vulnerabilities.

This procurement is set to replace older systems like the obsolete 9K33M2 Osa-AK and 2K12E Kvadrat missiles, as per sources from the Ministry of Defence. Meanwhile, the tender complements the Indian Army's existing air defence arsenal, including the Akash missile systems.

Previous orders for Akash have been substantial; in March 2024, the defence ministry inked deals worth Rs 39,125 crore for BrahMos missiles, Akash systems, and other equipment. More recently, on July 17, 2025, the Army successfully tested the Akash Prime variant in Ladakh, demonstrating enhanced precision and protection against hostile aircraft.

The Army Air Defence (AAD) played a crucial role in countering Pakistani drone attacks during Operation Sindoor, where Akash systems thwarted enemy missile attacks. It is worth noting that the Anant Shastra systems will strengthen the integrated air defence network, working alongside the Indian Air Force to guard against evolving aerial threats.

The tender to BEL underscores India's push for domestic production, with the systems being fully manufactured locally. Officials confirmed that deliveries are anticipated to begin soon, further integrating with recent acquisitions like the Akashteer Control and Reporting Systems introduced in April 2024.