The defence ministry, on Friday, signed a ₹445 crore contract with Russia's Rosoboronexport for the procurement of an air defence missile system for the Indian Army.
The Tunguska Air Defence Missile System is expected to enhance India’s multilayered air defence capabilities against aerial threats including aircraft drones and cruise missiles.
"The agreement will further strengthen the Indo-Russian strategic defence partnership," the ministry said in a statement.
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The 2K22 Tunguska is a Soviet-era tracked, self-propelled anti-aircraft system that combines guns and missiles for short-range air defence (SHORAD). Developed in the 1970s by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau to counter low-flying threats such as helicopters and jets, it mounts two twin 30mm 2A38 autocannons firing up to 5,000 rounds per minute, effective from 200m to 4km against air targets, and eight 9M311 missiles with radio-command guidance reaching 10km range and 900m/s speed.
A separate contract worth ₹413 was sealed with Boeing India Defence Private Ltd for the maintenance of the Indian Navy's P8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft.
The Boeing P-8I, a multi-role long-range maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare (LRMR ASW) aircraft, is integral to the Indian Navy's maritime surveillance missions in the Indian Ocean.
The Indian Navy currently operates 12 P-8I aircraft.
