Current Affairs · · Prelims · Science & Technology

Defence Ministry signs ₹4,106 crore deals for IAF satellite and Navy torpedoes

The Defence Ministry signed contracts worth about ₹4,106 crore on 15 October 2026. NSIL will supply the GSAT-7C communication satellite for the Indian Air Force, and Bharat Dynamics will supply Varunastra heavyweight torpedoes for the Navy. Both are indigenous systems.

Event date:

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    WHY IN NEWS?

    • The Ministry of Defence signed two contracts worth about ₹4,106 crore in New Delhi on 15 October 2026.
    • The GSAT-7C satellite contract, worth ₹2,563 crore, went to NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Bengaluru.
    • The Varunastra torpedo contract, worth ₹1,543 crore, went to Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad.
    • The Ministry described both as steps towards self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
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    THE TWO CONTRACTS

    The table sets the two deals side by side.

    ItemServiceSupplierValue (₹ crore)Role
    GSAT-7CIndian Air ForceNSIL, Bengaluru2,563Secure communication among IAF assets
    VarunastraIndian NavyBDL, Hyderabad1,543Ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo

    BDL has indicated the torpedo order will be completed within 42 months.

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    KEY CONCEPTS

    1. What is GSAT-7C?

    It is a dedicated military communication satellite for the IAF. It links aircraft, ground stations and airborne early-warning platforms on secure channels. The Defence Acquisition Council approved the programme in November 2021.

    1. Why does a military need its own satellite?

    Commercial satellites can be jammed, leased out or switched off by foreign operators. A dedicated satellite gives secure, assured communication during a crisis.

    1. What is Varunastra?

    It is India's indigenous heavyweight, ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo. It was designed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, a DRDO lab in Visakhapatnam. It uses acoustic homing to track submarines in shallow and deep water.

    1. What is NSIL?

    NewSpace India Limited is a public sector company under the Department of Space. It is the commercial arm of ISRO.

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    WHY IT MATTERS

    • Network-centric warfare depends on secure data links between platforms. GSAT-7C strengthens this for the IAF.
    • Submarine activity in the Indian Ocean is rising. Anti-submarine weapons are central to sea control.
    • Lower import dependence means fewer supply risks in a conflict and more domestic industrial capacity.
    • Space-defence integration grows as ISRO's commercial arm becomes a defence supplier.
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    WAY FORWARD

    These are suggested measures, not approved policy.

    • Deliver on time. Indian defence programmes often slip; schedules need tracking.
    • Build testing infrastructure so indigenous systems can be validated quickly.
    • Expand private participation in satellite and underwater weapons supply chains.
    • Secure the ground segment against cyber threats, not just the satellite.
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Sources

Syllabus

PaperSubjectSub-topic
PrelimsScience & TechnologyScience and Technology; defence systems in news
GS3Science & TechnologyDefence Technology, Indigenisation of Technology, Space Technology
GS3Internal SecuritySecurity and anti-submarine warfare

Topics

IndustryDefence TechnologySpace Technology

Practice questions

  1. Varunastra, recently in news, is:

    1. A submarine-launched cruise missile
    2. A ship-launched heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo
    3. An air-defence missile
    4. A naval surveillance drone
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Varunastra is an indigenous heavyweight torpedo developed by NSTL and built by BDL.

    Difficulty: easy · statement

  2. Consider the following statements about NewSpace India Limited: 1. It is a public sector company under the Department of Space. 2. It is a laboratory of DRDO. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both
    4. Neither
    Show answer

    Answer: A. NSIL is ISRO's commercial arm. NSTL, not NSIL, is a DRDO laboratory.

    Difficulty: easy · statement

  3. Which of the following was developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory?

    1. BrahMos
    2. Varunastra
    3. Astra
    4. Nag
    Show answer

    Answer: B. NSTL, Visakhapatnam, works on underwater weapons and systems.

    Difficulty: easy · statement

Mains practice

Answer-writing practice on this article. Attempt it first, then open the hints.

  1. GS3 · 250 words

    Discuss how dedicated military satellites and indigenous underwater weapons strengthen India's strategic autonomy. What challenges remain in defence indigenisation?

    Show hints
    1. Secure communications, network-centric warfare
    2. Indian Ocean submarine threats
    3. delays
    4. testing gaps
    5. private sector role