Ministry of Defence Signs ₹697 Crore Contracts for Rough Terrain Fork Lift Trucks to Boost Operational Efficiency

New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts with M/s ACE Limited and M/s JCB India Limited for the procurement of 1,868 Rough Terrain Fork Lift Trucks (RTFLT) for the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy. The contracts, signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri R K Singh, are valued at ₹697.35 crore and fall under the ‘Buy (Indian)’ category, reinforcing the government’s commitment to indigenous defence manufacturing.

The RTFLT is a crucial logistical and combat-support equipment, designed to efficiently handle and transport large quantities of military supplies. By reducing manual handling of heavy stores, these vehicles will enhance the operational effectiveness of India’s armed forces, ensuring faster and safer logistics operations in challenging terrains.

This procurement initiative is a major step towards modernizing India’s defence infrastructure while promoting self-reliance in defence production. The project is expected to significantly boost the MSME sector, as key components will be manufactured locally, leading to direct and indirect employment generation.