In a major step towards strengthening maritime security and naval air defence preparedness, the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday finalised contracts worth ₹5,083 crore for the acquisition of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch Shtil missile systems for the Indian Navy.
The agreements were signed on March 3, 2026, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block in New Delhi.
The ₹2,901 crore contract for six ALH Mk-III (MR) helicopters has been awarded to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under the Buy (Indian–Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category. The twin-engine helicopters will be delivered with specialised operational equipment, an engineering support package, and performance-based logistics support.
Equipped with advanced avionics and enhanced maritime capabilities, the helicopters are designed to carry out a broad spectrum of missions from coastal bases as well as onboard ships. Their induction is expected to significantly strengthen the Coast Guard’s capacity to protect offshore installations, artificial islands, fishermen, and the marine ecosystem.
The project is set to draw supplies from more than 200 MSMEs and is estimated to create around 65 lakh man-hours of employment. The procurement reinforces the government’s push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make-in-India initiative, further expanding indigenous defence production.
Separately, the Ministry concluded a ₹2,182 crore deal with JSC Rosoboronexport, Russian Federation, for the procurement of Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch Shtil missiles along with related missile holding frames.
This acquisition is intended to significantly upgrade the air defence shield of frontline naval warships against a wide range of aerial threats. The Shtil system will enhance the Navy’s layered air defence network by enabling rapid-response, all-weather interception capabilities, thereby improving survivability in high-threat maritime environments.
The agreement also underscores the longstanding and strategic defence cooperation between India and Russia, built on decades of mutual trust and collaboration.
Through these dual procurements, India has reinforced both its coastal security framework and naval operational readiness in the face of emerging maritime challenges.
