The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi (HVF) -- a unit of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited (AVNL) -- for the procurement of 47 x Tank-72 Bridge Laying Tanks (BLT) for the Indian Army at a total cost of Rs 1,560.52 crore.
The contract was inked by senior officials of MoD and HVF/AVNL in the presence of Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh, in New Delhi on January 21, 2025.
The BLT is a critical piece of equipment, employed by tank columns to launch bridges during offensive or defensive operations by mechanised forces, do that their advance does not grind to a halt when they encounter canals or ditches.
The BLTs that are grouped with such columns provide integral bridging capability to the advancing tank and armoured vehicle fleet and enhance their battlefield mobility and offensive capability.
Since the procurement of BLTs would fall into the "Buy Indian -- Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured, or Buy Indian (IDDM) category, this will impart an impetus to the Make-in-India initiative in defence. it will also play a pivotal role in boosting the economy and increasing employment avenues in the country.
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