Defence Ministry Inks Rs 697 Crore Contracts For 1,868 Rough Terrain Fork Lift Trucks To Enhance Armed Forces' Operational Effectiveness

The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts with ACE Limited and JCB India Limited for the procurement of 1,868 Rough Terrain Fork Lift Trucks (RTFLT) at a total cost of Rs 697.35 crore.

The signing took place in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri R K Singh.

The procurement of fork lift trucks will benefit the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy.

The RTFLT is a crucial piece of equipment designed to enhance combat and logistics support operations.

It will reduce the need for manual handling of large volumes of stores, thereby improving operational efficiency across the three services.

This procurement falls under the Buy (Indian) category, aimed at strengthening domestic defence manufacturing.

The initiative is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment opportunities, particularly by boosting the MSME sector involved in component manufacturing.

This comes after the MoD signed a Rs 1,220 crore contract with Bengaluru-based Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the procurement of 149 Software Defined Radios (SDRs) for the Indian Coast Guard.

These advanced SDRs will facilitate secure and high-speed data exchange, along with encrypted voice communication, ensuring reliable information sharing and enhanced situational awareness.

The deployment of these radios will strengthen the Coast Guard’s operational effectiveness in key areas such as maritime law enforcement, search and rescue missions, fisheries protection, and marine environment conservation.

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