Indian Navy’s Dornier Fleet to Get Mid Life Upgrades Worth $350M

The Indian defense ministry has signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) of the Navy’s 25 Dornier aircraft at a cost of INR 2,890 crore ($350 million).

The contract was signed on March 15, according to an official defense ministry release.

The MLU for the Dornier aircraft includes upgrades to incorporate Avionics Systems and Primary Role sensors. This upgrade aims to enhance the operational capability of the Indian Navy's Dornier aircraft, enabling them to perform primary roles such as Maritime Surveillance, Coastal Surveillance, Electronic Intelligence, and the development of Maritime Domain Awareness. Additionally, this upgrade will allow Indian Navy Dorniers to carry out secondary roles including Search and Rescue, Medical/Casualty Evacuation, and Communication Links.

The Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) of 25 Dornier Aircraft is expected to generate employment for 1.8 lakh man-days during its execution span of 6.5 years.