♦ The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth Rs.5,083 crore for the procurement of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch (VL)-Shtil missiles for the Indian Navy on 3 March 2026. The contracts were inked at South Block in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

♦ The contract for six ALH Mk-III (MR) helicopters, along with operational role equipment, an engineering support package and performance-based logistics support, has been awarded to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru under the Buy (Indian–Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category. The deal is valued at Rs.2,901 crore.

♦ In a separate agreement, the Defence Ministry signed a Rs.2,182 crore contract with JSC Rosoboronexport of the Russian Federation for the procurement of Surface-to-Air VL-Shtil missiles and associated missile holding frames for the Indian Navy.

♦ The acquisition is aimed at enhancing the air defence capabilities of frontline naval warships against a broad spectrum of aerial threats.