New Delhi: India’s Ministry of Defence today said it has signed a Rs 1,200 crore ($160 million) contract with Indian company Tata Power SED for the second phase of the military infrastructure modernisation programme to cover 37 of the air force, navy, and coast guard airfields.

Approved by Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh, the Modernisation of Air Field Infrastructure (MAFI) of the 37 airfields will be carried out under a turnkey project that includes installation and commissioning of modern airfield equipment, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

The MAFI Phase-II is a follow-on programme based on MAFI Phase-I that included upgradation of 30 airfields of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The airfields modernised under MAFI Phase-I have been of immense benefit to both military and civil users.

The Phase-II equipment upgrade includes Cat-II Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Cat II Air Field Lightning System (AFLS).

The modern equipment around the airfield will also be directly connected to Air Traffic Control (ATC), thereby providing excellent control of the airfield systems to the air traffic controllers.

The upgradation of navigational aids and infrastructure under this project would enhance the operational capability by facilitating air operations of military and civil aircraft even in poor visibility and adverse weather condition, while enhancing aerospace safety.

The contract will provide impetus to the domestic aerospace and defence industry in the prevailing situation. The project will give a boost to over 250 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which will be directly benefited from being involved in execution of various activities of this project.

The contract would aid in infusing the much needed capital in the market and boost employment generation in such fields as communications, avionics, information technology, apart from civil and electrical equipment and construction.