Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking, has won fresh orders worth ₹2,323 crore (excluding taxes) from two leading Indian shipbuilders—Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The orders are for the supply of base and depot-level spares for missile systems installed on Indian Navy warships, ensuring uninterrupted operational readiness of these systems.
The latest contract highlights BEL’s growing importance in India’s maritime defense architecture. It will directly support advanced Indian naval platforms such as the Kamorta-class corvettes. These corvettes, constructed by GRSE under Project 28, form a key part of the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare fleet. With four ships—INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan, and INS Kavaratti—commissioned between 2014 and 2020, the class stands out for achieving nearly 90% indigenous content, aligning with the Indian government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Equipped with advanced systems such as BEL’s IAC Mod C fire-control system, the Kamorta-class ships are also set to integrate the Vertically Launched Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) system. This move, planned by the Indian Navy since 2022, aims to further enhance the fleet’s air defense capabilities.
The order marks another significant addition to BEL’s expanding defense portfolio. It follows closely on the heels of a ₹2,210 crore order announced on June 3 for supplying 240 aero-engines and Electronic Warfare Suites for Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force. BEL’s financial growth has kept pace with these achievements, with its net profit for Q4 FY 2025 rising 15% to ₹2,127 crore, backed by a 13% increase in revenue to ₹8,499 crore.
The Kamorta-class corvettes themselves are a symbol of India’s defense engineering capabilities. With a length of 109 meters and a beam of 13.7 meters, they are designed for operations in nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare environments. Capable of speeds up to 25 knots, even under sea state 7 conditions, they can also accommodate helicopters such as the Westland Sea King Mk.42B.
GRSE’s role in building these vessels has also elevated its position on the global stage, with proposals submitted in recent years for naval acquisition projects in the Philippines and Brazil.
This latest development reflects India’s ongoing commitment to building a self-reliant defense ecosystem, strengthening its position in the Indo-Pacific, and reducing dependency on foreign military imports. BEL’s consistent success in securing high-value defense contracts not only boosts the domestic defense industry but also enhances India’s potential to emerge as a global exporter of advanced military technologies.
