The Indian Army has signed two major contracts to enhance its air defence and night-fighting capabilities, focusing on rapid response against drones and improved assault rifle performance in low-light conditions.
The Corps of Army Air Defence inked a deal with UK-based Thales for the procurement of Lightweight Modular Missiles (LMM). According to the Army, the man-portable LMM system is effective against all types of aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and UCAVs, including aerial targets with low infrared signatures, with a range exceeding 6 km in all-weather conditions.
“The LMM operates on the laser beam riding principle and is resistant to evasive maneuvers of modern aerial platforms,” the Army said. “Its advanced sighting system, proximity fuze, and high-explosive warhead give it a high single-shot kill probability.” The procurement comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, underscoring the need to detect and neutralize high-value drones and UAVs effectively.
In a separate contract, the Ministry of Defence signed a deal worth Rs 659.47 crore with a consortium of MKU Ltd (lead) and Medbit Technologies Pvt Ltd for night sights for the 7.62 × 51 mm SIG 716 assault rifle. These sights allow soldiers to engage targets at effective ranges up to 500 meters, even under starlit conditions, significantly improving over the existing Passive Night Sights (PNS).
Classified as a Buy (Indian-IDDM) procurement with over 51% indigenous content, the initiative strengthens Atma Nirbharta in defence manufacturing and benefits MSMEs involved in component production and raw material supply.
These acquisitions mark a strategic enhancement of the Indian Army’s operational readiness, combining precision air defence with improved night-time combat effectiveness.
