Bengaluru-based MSA Global Technology & Engineering Pvt Ltd has secured a major supply contract from the Indian Army for the procurement of more than 50,000 ice axes and shovels, marking a decisive step towards complete indigenisation of high-altitude mountaineering equipment and ending imports of these critical tools for the first time.
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Delhi, with advanced manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru, MSA Global specialises in precision engineering solutions for the aerospace and defence sectors. The company’s state-of-the-art centre of excellence enables high-tolerance production, meeting the Indian Army’s stringent requirements for rugged and reliable equipment used in extreme terrains.
The contract, announced by the company via LinkedIn in early December 2025, highlights MSA Global’s expanding footprint in defence manufacturing. The firm previously gained recognition for developing all-metal barrels for the GRAD BM-21 rocket launcher system in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science, underlining its growing technological capabilities.
Ice axes and shovels are mission-critical tools for Army units deployed in super high-altitude areas, particularly along the Line of Actual Control with China. In regions such as Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, these tools are essential for snow clearance, trench digging, movement on icy slopes, and ensuring troop safety in sub-zero conditions.
Until recently, much of the Army’s specialised clothing and mountaineering equipment (SCME) was imported. However, aggressive indigenisation has resulted in 97 per cent self-reliance across 55 of 57 SCME items by late 2025, with the remaining items currently under trials. The MSA Global contract stands as a clear indicator of this transformation.
The deal aligns with the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, championed by the Ministry of Defence, which have significantly reduced import dependence across ammunition, equipment, and soldier gear. Notably, the Army has cut ammunition import reliance from nearly 40 per cent to below 10 per cent in recent years, with similar gains now visible in non-lethal equipment.
Supplying over 50,000 units will substantially strengthen stockpiles for multiple regiments deployed in high-altitude posts, ensuring faster replenishment, better customisation for Indian terrain, and reduced vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions amid heightened border tensions.
The contract also boosts Bengaluru’s defence manufacturing ecosystem—already home to major players such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited—by fostering job creation, MSME participation, and technology transfer. Economically, indigenisation saves valuable foreign exchange and lowers unit costs through domestic economies of scale.
With this milestone, MSA Global is expected to emerge as a key private-sector partner in India’s defence industrial base, with potential future opportunities in artillery components, UAV subsystems, and other high-precision military hardware, as the Army targets 100 per cent self-reliance by 2026.
