New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the Armed Systems Complex of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in Hazira, Surat, where he reviewed the production of advanced defence platforms and indigenously developed armoured vehicles.
During his visit to the state-of-the-art facility, senior L&T officials briefed the Prime Minister on a range of indigenous defence technologies being developed under India’s self-reliance initiative. He was also given an overview of Zorawar, India’s first indigenous light battle tank, jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and L&T Defence.
Designed for operations in high-altitude and mountainous terrain, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, the 25-tonne air-transportable tank combines mobility, rapid deployment capability and significant firepower. The platform is named after the legendary 19th-century Dogra military commander Zorawar Singh.
Following the visit, Modi highlighted the company’s contribution to India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. In a post on X, he said, “This afternoon, I visited the L&T complex at Hazira and witnessed several pioneering innovations across sectors. L&T’s contribution towards strengthening self-reliance in the defence sector is commendable.”
Referring to the defence exhibition held at the facility, the Prime Minister said it showcased India’s growing capabilities in defence production under the Make in India initiative and reflected the country’s commitment to promoting indigenous manufacturing in the sector.
The visit assumes added significance as L&T has been shortlisted as a potential bidder for the Request for Proposal (RFP) for India’s ambitious indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet programme, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project.
