Article Posted on : - Aug 21, 2013

The Invar missile will equip the Army's T-90 MBT (in picture).

NEW DELHI (PTI): In a major boost to Army's firepower, defence PSU Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has been given a Rs 3,000-crore contract by the Defence Ministry to produce Russian-origin Invar anti-tank guided missiles for the T-90 tanks of the force.

"Bharat Dynamic Limited, Hyderabad, signed a contract with Defence Ministry for supplying Invar anti-tank guided missiles to Indian Army here yesterday. The contract is valued about Rs 3,000 crore," Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.

The deal was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier this month to help the Army in meeting its requirement for anti-tank missiles.

Former Army Chief Gen V K Singh had written a letter to the government last year highlighting the shortage of such missiles for the Army.

The BDL would be licence-producing these missiles at its facilities and the deliveries are expected to be completed in next five years.

The 5km-range Invar is a laser beam rider anti-tank guided missile capable of being fired from T-90 main battle tank. The missile can neutralise adversaries' tanks fitted with Explosive Reactive Armour Protection, Ministry officials said.

BDL has been manufacturing these missiles under technical collaboration with Rosoboronexport of Russia.