NEW DELHI: In a bid to enhance the Indian Army’s minefield breaching capability, the defence ministry on Tuesday signed contracts worth nearly Rs 975 crore for the procurement of critical equipment for T-72 and T-90 tanks.The contracts with defence PSU Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) and Electro Pneumatics and Hydraulics (India) Private Ltd are for the procurement of TRAWL assembly for T-72/T-90 tanks. The deals were inked in the presence of defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.TRAWL assembly for T-72/T-90 Tanks is a critical equipment developed by DRDO that will generate additional capability to create vehicle safe lanes through minefields laid with anti-tank mines that have proximity magnetic fuses, thereby enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Army, a ministry statement said.Being a ‘Buy (Indian-indigenously designed, developed and manufactured)’ case, the procurement marks a pivotal step towards modernising India’s defence infrastructure and empowering indigenous industries. “This project has immense potential for direct and indirect employment generation by encouraging the MSME sector through components’ manufacturing,” the statement added.
