Strengthening Maritime Surveillance Under Buy (Indian)
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur, for the acquisition of eight Dornier 228 aircraft along with Operational Role Equipment for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), at a cost of ₹2,312 crore under the Buy (Indian) category.
The contract was signed in New Delhi on February 12, 2026, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The Dornier 228 is a twin-engine, turboprop Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) utility aircraft, originally developed by Dornier GmbH of Germany and license-manufactured in India by HAL at Kanpur since the 1980s.
Its short runway requirements make it especially suited for operations from island chains such as the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep, where longer runways are unavailable.
Boosting Domestic Manufacturing and MRO Capacity
The Coast Guard currently operates a fleet of more than 35 Dornier aircraft for coastal surveillance, maritime patrol, and search-and-rescue missions; the new aircraft will expand this fleet's reach at a time of growing security demands across the Indian Ocean Region.
The programme is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment by strengthening HAL's production ecosystem and supporting a wide network of MSMEs and ancillary industries, while also creating sustained opportunities in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and life-cycle technical support.
The deal was announced on the same day as the DAC's broader ₹3.60 lakh crore clearance, underlining how the Coast Guard's more modest, steady modernisation needs are being pursued in parallel with the Air Force's larger fighter-jet ambitions.
The contract reinforces the government's twin themes of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India while bolstering India's maritime security architecture.
Exam-relevant facts: the contract value ₹2,312 crore, the category Buy (Indian), and HAL's Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur, as the production agency.
Source: pib.gov.in
