By A Correspondent
New Delhi: In a major push to modernise India’s armed forces and strengthen domestic defence manufacturing, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on December 30, 2025, signed contracts worth INR 4,666 crore for the procurement of over 425,000 Close Quarter Battle (CQB) carbines and 48 heavyweight torpedoes.
The agreements were inked in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block here, according to an MoD statement issued by the Press Information Bureau.
The largest share of the deal — INR 2,770 crore — is for the supply of CQB carbines and accessories to the Indian Army and Indian Navy.
The carbines contract has been awarded to Indian firm Bharat Forge Limited and PLR Systems Private Limited, a joint venture between Adani Defence and Israel Weapon Industries.
Under the arrangement, around 60% of the carbines will be manufactured by Bharat Forge, with the remainder produced by PLR Systems. Deliveries are expected to be completed over the next five years.
Designed as a core weapon for modern infantry, the CQB carbine offers a compact form factor and a high rate of fire, giving soldiers a decisive edge in close-combat and urban warfare scenarios.
The induction will replace ageing legacy systems and aligns with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and Make in India initiatives, while also supporting MSMEs, job creation, and the domestic defence supply chain.
The remaining INR 1,896 crore contract covers the procurement and integration of 48 “Black Shark” heavyweight torpedoes for the Indian Navy’s six Kalvari-class (Scorpene) submarines under Project-75.
The deal has been signed with WASS Submarine Systems S.R.L. of Italy. Deliveries will begin in April 2028 and conclude by early 2030.
These advanced torpedoes will significantly enhance the underwater combat capability of the diesel-electric submarines built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in collaboration with France’s Naval Group.
The two contracts form part of the MoD’s broader modernisation drive, which has seen capital acquisitions worth INR 182,000 crore signed in FY 2025–26 alone.
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