ACE Readies First 50 Rough Terrain Forklifts for Indian Armed Forces Under ₹420-Crore Defence Order

Indian construction and material-handling equipment manufacturer Action Construction Equipment Limited has readied the first batch of 50 Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks for the Indian Armed Forces, marking the beginning of execution of one of the company’s largest-ever defence orders.

The machines form part of a ₹420-crore Ministry of Defence contract awarded to ACE for 1,121 Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks, or RTFLTs, together with attachments and associated accessories. The contract represents a substantial indigenous procurement programme for specialised military logistics equipment and supports the expansion of domestic manufacturing capabilities in a segment traditionally dependent on highly specialised machinery.

First 50 Machines Ready for Dispatch

ACE has confirmed that the first lot of 50 Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks is ready for dispatch under the defence programme.

The milestone moves the programme from contracting and manufacturing into the delivery phase. Production of the remaining machines will progressively fulfil the larger order for 1,121 RTFLTs.

These are not conventional warehouse forklifts. Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks are designed to move loads across difficult surfaces and operate in environments where standard industrial material-handling equipment would struggle.

For the armed forces, such vehicles can support the movement and handling of ammunition, engineering stores, equipment, supplies and other heavy loads at military installations and operational logistics locations.

ACE Secured 60 Per Cent of Larger Defence Requirement

The origins of the programme go back to February 2025, when the Ministry of Defence concluded contracts for the procurement of a total of 1,868 Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks for the Indian Armed Forces.

ACE secured an order for 1,121 machines, representing approximately 60 per cent of the overall requirement. The company’s portion of the procurement is valued at ₹420 crore.

ACE described the contract as the largest single order in its history when it announced the award in February 2025. The company said it had qualified for the programme after its equipment underwent comprehensive performance testing.

The contract covers 1-to-2-tonne Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks together with the required attachments and accessories.

Built for Military Logistics

Military logistics requires equipment capable of functioning considerably beyond the controlled environment of warehouses and industrial facilities.

Rough terrain forklifts are designed around this requirement. Their mobility allows material-handling operations to continue across uneven surfaces and demanding terrain, making them suitable for field logistics, depots and other military environments.

Mechanised handling also reduces dependence on manual movement of heavy supplies and allows stores to be loaded, unloaded and repositioned more efficiently.

For the Army, Air Force and Navy, such equipment forms part of the less visible but essential logistics infrastructure that keeps operational units supplied.

Part of a 1,868-Machine Procurement Programme

The wider Ministry of Defence programme covers 1,868 Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks intended for the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

ACE’s 1,121-machine order therefore represents the majority share of the programme.

The scale is notable because defence indigenisation is not confined to missiles, aircraft, warships and armoured vehicles. Logistics and engineering equipment constitute another important layer of military capability, encompassing cranes, forklifts, specialised transporters, recovery equipment and material-handling systems.

Domestic production of such equipment also creates manufacturing capacity that can serve both military and civilian markets.

A Major Defence Manufacturing Programme for ACE

For ACE, the ₹420-crore contract represents a significant expansion of its presence in India’s defence equipment market.

The Haryana-based company already manufactures cranes, construction equipment, material-handling machinery and agricultural equipment. Securing a military requirement exceeding 1,100 machines takes the company deeper into specialised defence logistics manufacturing.

The company has repeatedly described the RTFLT programme as an important part of its contribution to Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Its investor disclosures have continued to identify the 1,121-machine contract as a major defence-sector opportunity.

Indigenous Equipment Behind the Front Line

The first batch of 50 machines also illustrates a broader dimension of India’s defence indigenisation programme.

Combat platforms receive most public attention, but sustained military operations depend equally on the equipment that moves ammunition, stores, spares and other supplies behind the front line. Increasing domestic production of this supporting equipment reduces dependence on imported machinery while expanding India’s industrial base for specialised military vehicles.

With the first 50 Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks now ready for dispatch, ACE has begun the execution phase of a programme that will ultimately see more than 1,100 of its machines enter India’s military logistics system.

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References

Action Construction Equipment Limited — Press Release, “ACE Ltd Secures ₹420 Crore Contract from Ministry of Defence,” 20 February 2025.

Action Construction Equipment Limited — Investor Presentations and statutory disclosures concerning the Ministry of Defence order for 1,121 Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks.

Action Construction Equipment Limited — Company update on first batch of 50 Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks ready for dispatch.

Ministry of Defence, Government of India — Procurement programme for 1,868 Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks for the Indian Armed Forces.

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