The Defence Ministry’s planned order for 500 Invar anti-tank guided missiles—valued at ₹2,000–3,000 crore—will be placed with which defence Public Sector Unit (PSU)?

Correct option is D

Correct Answer: (d)
Explanation
· The order for 500 Invar anti-tank guided missiles is planned to be placed with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
· BDL is the primary Defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in India responsible for the manufacturing of ammunition and missile systems.
· The Invar missiles are being procured to enhance the firepower of the Indian Army's T-90 tanks.
Information Booster
· The Invar (3UBK20) is a laser-guided anti-tank missile of Russian origin.
· It is fired from the 125 mm smoothbore gun of the T-90 tank, allowing it to hit targets at a range of up to 5 km, much farther than conventional tank shells.
· BDL manufactures these missiles under technical collaboration with Russia (Rosoboronexport).
Additional Knowledge
· Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd. (a): This PSU (carved out of the Ordnance Factory Board) is responsible for manufacturing the tanks themselves (like T-90 Bhishma and Arjun), but not the guided missiles fired by them.
· Bharat Electronics Limited (b): Specializes in advanced electronic products like radars, sonars, and communication systems.
· Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (c): A premier shipbuilding company responsible for building warships and vessels for the Indian Navy.