The defence ministry has signed contracts worth Rs 2,500 crore for a new anti-tank weapon called Nag missile system (NAMIS) and light vehicles to boost the military’s capabilities It signed a Rs 1,801-crore contract with Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited (AVNL) for NAMIS, paving the way for the induction of the anti-tank weapon system into the mechanised infantry. The army secured approvals for NAMIS for reconnaissance and support battalions (13 Nag missile carriers and 293 missiles) around three years ago. NAMIS has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The ministry also signed two deals with Force Motors Ltd and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd for around 5,000 light vehicles for the armed forces.
The defence ministry described NAMIS as one of the most sophisticated anti-tank weapon systems against enemy armour, with fire-and-forget anti-tank missiles and sighting systems for enhanced firepower and lethality. All contracts were signed under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. The Indian-IDDM category is the most important category of acquisition for indigenisation under the defence procurement policy. IDDM stands for indigenously designed, developed and manufactured.
On the light vehicles, the ministry said these would provide mobility to the armed forces in all types of terrain and operational conditions.
