Written by Amrita Nayak DuttaNew Delhi | December 31, 2025 04:56 AM IST 2 min readThe Defence Ministry Tuesday signed contracts for the procurement of 4.25 lakh Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines and 48 heavyweight torpedoes worth Rs 4,666 crore.The massive order for the forces comes ahead of the Union Budget for the next fiscal. In FY 2025-26, the Defence Ministry has signed capital contracts amounting to Rs 1,82,492 crore.The contract for over 4.25 lakh CQB Carbine along with accessories, worth Rs 2,770 crore, for Indian Army and Navy was signed with Bharat Forge Ltd and PLR Systems Pvt Ltd. The contract for procurement and integration of 48 heavyweight torpedoes, along with associated equipment for Kalvari-class submarines of the Navy at an approximate cost of Rs 1,896 crore, was signed with WASS Submarine Systems SRL, Italy.Read | Military hardware worth Rs 79,000 crore gets govt nodAccording to Defence Ministry, the long-due deal signed to procure CQB Carbines will equip soldiers with “world-class lethality, replacing legacy systems with cutting-edge indigenous technology under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.”“As a cornerstone of the modern infantry arsenal, the CQB Carbine provides a critical edge in close combat through its compact design and high rate of fire, ensuring rapid, decisive lethality in confined spaces,” the Ministry said in a statement.It added that the contract highlights the synergy between the government and the private sector, which will give impetus to the Make-in-India initiative.“This project will also play a pivotal role in boosting overall economy, increasing employment avenues and will also empower indigenous defence industries by encouraging Indian MSMEs through components’ manufacturing and raw material supply,” it said.Story continues below this adThe acquisition and integration of torpedoes along with associated equipment for Kalvari-class Submarines (P-75) of the Navy will enhance combat capability of six submarines, the Ministry said, adding that delivery will start from April 2028 and will be completed by early 2030.Amrita Nayak Dutta writes on defence and national security as part of the national bureau of The Indian Express. In the past, Amrita has extensively reported on the media industry and broadcasting matters, urban affairs, bureaucracy and government policies. In the last 14 years of her career, she has worked in newspapers as well as in the online media space and is well versed with the functioning of both newsrooms. Amrita has worked in the northeast, Mumbai and Delhi. She has travelled extensively across the country, including in far-flung border areas, to bring detailed reports from the ground and has written investigative reports on media and defence. She has been working for The Indian Express since January 2023. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Indian armyNavy