MoD Signs Rs 2,312 Crore Contract with HAL for Eight Dornier 228 Aircraft for Coast Guard
The Ministry of Defence on February 12, 2026, signed a Rs 2,312 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the acquisition of eight Dornier 228 aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) under the Buy (Indian) category. The agreement was formalised in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
The aircraft, to be manufactured by HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division in Kanpur, will be delivered along with Operational Role Equipment to enhance the Coast Guard’s surveillance and maritime patrol capabilities. The Dornier 228 is primarily used for coastal surveillance, search and rescue, pollution monitoring and maritime reconnaissance missions.
HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, is the designated production facility for the Dornier 228 in India. The Do-228 has been manufactured there for both the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy for decades.
This is not the first time the Indian Coast Guard has inducted Dornier aircraft. The ICG has been operating the Dornier 228 fleet for several decades. The latest procurement is aimed at modernising its existing inventory to meet growing operational requirements across India’s vast maritime zones.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the programme is expected to generate substantial direct and indirect employment by strengthening HAL’s production ecosystem and supporting a wide network of MSMEs and ancillary industries. It is also likely to create sustained opportunities in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services and lifecycle technical support.
The Ministry of Defence said in a statement that the contract reinforces the government’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India while bolstering India’s maritime security architecture.
