The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to add more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in its fleet. The IAF is interested in acquiring more drones in view of their capability to perform specific tasks on the borders. As a remotely piloted vehicle, drones are flown at borders for collecting information on adversaries and relayed for further action. At present the IAF is studying present and future requirements for drones. The IAF currently operates the Israeli-made Searcher II and Heron for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes. The air force also operates Lakshya as a towed aerial sub-target for live fire training.
India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to design and develop advanced Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) for Indian Air Force. The aim is to develop long-range radars with onboard command, control and communications for both tactical and air defence forces from higher altitudes. Also DRDO has sent proposal to the Defence Ministry seeking $ 188 million (Rs 850 crore) for the design and development of the same. As of now DRDO’s proposal does not identify a technology partner but it keeps open the option of taking on consultants as and when required.
Raghu Vamsi Machine Tools a privately owned small and medium enterprise in Hyderabad has entered into a joint venture (JV) with Industria de Tuberias Aeronauticas(ITA) a Spanish company and Reginson Engineering Ltd a British Company. Raghu Vamsi Machine Tools are into the manufacturing of precision engineering parts for Aerospace and Defense industries. The JV named as “Reginson India” and will manufacture machined components designed to be assembled into rigid and flexible pipes or ducts, i.e. End Fittings for Aircraft Engines. Also Reginson provides the product know how, and Raghu Vamsi will provide the local market knowledge and industrial capabilities.
The French firm Dassault Rafale has emerged as the L1 (lowest bidder) and cheaper than the other contender EADS which had offered Eurofighter Typhoon in the global tender worth Rs 42000 crore ($10.5 billion) issued in 2007 for supplying 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). However, the final contract will be signed only in the next fiscal. The first 18 aircraft will be bought off the shelf to be supplied within 36 months. The rest 108 will be built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) from its Bangalore facility through technology transfers.
French company Thales is likely to offer Infra Red Search and Track (IRST) System to the Indian Air Force (IAF) on a “Buy and Make (Indian)” basis. The “Buy and Make (Indian)” category of procurement requires an Indian partner to absorb critical, high-end technologies and develop capabilities within India. Thales has already conveyed to IAF that Samtel Thales Avionics, a joint venture between Indian company Samtel and Thales, would do 50% of the design and development work in India.
The Russian Akula-II class submarine `K-152 Nerpa' was commissioned into Indian Navy as INS Chakra on a 10-year lease. India finalized a contract worth $900 Million approx. with Russia in 2004 for Akula II class Nerpa nuclear attack submarine, in which at the end of the lease of these submarines, it has an option to buy them.
British multinational defence, security and aerospace company BAE Systems has appointed Dean McCumiskey as Managing Director and Chief Executive of its India operations with effect from March 2012.
Cochin Shipyard has signed a contract with Italy’s Selex Sistemi Integrati a Finmeccanica company for procurement of naval radar for India’s indigenous aircraft carrier. As per the contract, the Italian firm Selex will deliver the air surveillance naval radar RAN 40L and IFF radar for the INS Vikrant.
