The Ministry of Defence today inked a Rs 975 crore contract for equipment used by Army tanks to breach enemy minefields. Called the ‘Trawl assembly’, this is used by Army’s T-72 and T-90 tanks.

The Ministry of Defence said two contracts – one with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and the other with Electro Pneumatics and Hydraulics (India) Private Limited — for the procurement of ‘Trawl assembly’ at an approximate cost of Rs 975 crore.

The contracts were inked in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

The ‘trawl’ is a critical equipment developed by DRDO to enhance the minefield breaching capability of the Indian Army. It would generate additional capability of creating ‘vehicle safe lanes’ through minefields with anti-tank mines. “It would enhance the operational effectiveness of the Indian Army,” the MoD said.