In a major boost to India’s defence preparedness and self-reliance efforts, the Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹2,312 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the supply of eight Dornier 228 aircraft to the Indian Coast Guard. The deal strengthens coastal security while reinforcing the government’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
Taking a significant step toward strengthening India’s defence capabilities, the Ministry of Defence has signed a major agreement worth ₹2,312 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The contract involves the procurement of eight Dornier 228 aircraft along with associated operational role equipment for the Indian Coast Guard.
The agreement has been signed under the Buy (Indian) category, aimed at promoting indigenous defence manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the contract was formally signed in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
The Dornier 228 is a multi-utility aircraft designed for a wide range of critical missions. These aircraft are extensively used for:
Maritime surveillance
Search and rescue operations
Pollution monitoring
Coastal and island security
With the induction of these aircraft, the operational capability of the Indian Coast Guard is expected to improve significantly, enabling faster response and enhanced monitoring of India’s vast coastline.
This defence deal is being seen as a strong endorsement of the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India policies.
The Dornier 228 aircraft will be manufactured at HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division in Kanpur, ensuring that India’s defence requirements are met domestically. This move will help reduce foreign dependency and strengthen India’s indigenous aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.
The Defence Ministry stated that the programme will also benefit MSMEs and ancillary industries associated with HAL’s production supply chain.
The ₹2,312 crore contract is expected to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities across the aerospace and defence sectors.
Beyond aircraft manufacturing, the deal will create long-term work in:
Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services
Lifecycle technical support
Skill development in defence aviation
This will further strengthen India’s defence industrial base.
The induction of Dornier 228 aircraft will significantly reinforce India’s maritime security architecture. These aircraft are capable of long-range surveillance and are crucial for detecting suspicious activities along coastal areas.
Given the growing strategic challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), such platforms play a vital role in safeguarding national maritime interests.
Earlier, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for defence procurement proposals worth approximately ₹3.60 lakh crore.
These include:
Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft for the Indian Air Force
Combat missiles and high-altitude platforms
Anti-tank mines and armoured vehicle overhauls for the Army
The purchase of Dornier 228 aircraft fits into this broader strategy to modernise India’s armed forces.
On February 12, the Defence Ministry also approved the long-pending proposal to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from France under a government-to-government framework.
The DAC cleared capital procurement of military hardware worth ₹3.60 lakh crore. Once pricing negotiations are completed, the final proposal will be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.