The Ministry of Defence has finalised a Rs 2,385.36 crore contract with public sector defence manufacturer Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the acquisition and installation of state-of-the-art Electronic Warfare (EW) suites and aircraft modification kits on Mi-17 V5 helicopters of the Indian Air Force.

Electronic Warfare (EW) suites are advanced systems designed to detect, intercept, disrupt, deceive, or deny the enemy’s use of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The agreement was signed in New Delhi on Monday in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh.

According to the Defence Ministry, the advanced EW suite is expected to significantly enhance the operational survivability of Mi-17 V5 helicopters in hostile environments.

The project falls under the "Buy (Indian–Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)" category, ensuring that the majority of sub-assemblies and components will be sourced from Indian manufacturers.

It represents a major leap forward in indigenous EW capabilities, furthering the goal of making India self-reliant under the Make-in-India initiative.

The initiative is also set to boost participation from Indian electronics and associated industries, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).