India’s Ministry of Defence has signed an INR697.35 crore (USD80.6 million) deal with Ace Limited and JCB India for 1,868 rough terrain forklifts for use by the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy.

Ace, founded in 1995, is India’s largest crane producer with a portfolio of more than 60 products including forklifts and cranes and now boasts more than 100 locations globally.

JCB India was founded in 1979 and is subsidiary of UK-based J.C Bamford Excavators, producing predominantly machinery for the construction sector as well as telehandlers for the materials handling industry.

In a statement, the Indian Defence Ministry said the rough-terrain forklifts are “critical equipment which will assist in various combat and logistics support tasks by avoiding manual handling of enormous number of stores and thus enhancing the operational effectiveness” of its armed forces.

“The procurement marks a pivotal step towards modernising India’s defence infrastructure and empowering indigenous industries, which will be a proud flag-bearer of ‘Aatmnirbhar Bharat’ (a self-reliant India)”, the ministry adds.