A total of 71 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), 13 product launches, 18 transfer of technology (ToT) and six major announcements formed the key takeaways of the 11th edition of DefExpo 2020 held in Lucknow, on 5-9 February 2020. Of these, 23 MoUs worth Rs 50,000 crore were inked with the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government alone through the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).
Following are the major MoUs and joint ventures (JVs) announced during DEFEXPO 2020.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Israel Aerospace Industries Limited (IAI) and Dynamatic Technologies Limited (DTL) signed a MoU for marketing, manufacturing and selling of IAI’s Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (UAVs) to Indian potential customers such as Indian defence forces, paramilitary forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
• Bharat Forge Ltd (BFL) signed a MoU with General Atomics, US. Under the terms of the MoU, BFL and General Atomics’ Electromagnetic Systems Group (GA-EMS) will investigate opportunities to develop and integrate power generation, storage, control and distribution technologies related to surface and undersea naval platforms, and advanced projectiles for weapon system platforms to address Indian defence requirements.
• Airbus has offered to build the Panther or the H145M helicopter in India under the government’s Strategic Partnership (SP) model for the Naval Multi Role Helicopter (NMRH) programme. Designed to cater to all the needs of India’s armed forces, these helicopters would be produced in India in partnership with Mahindra Defence.
• On 3 February, Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport, said that with the assistance of FSMTC of Russia and Rostec State Corporation, they registered joint ventures in India to produce Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles, whose indigenous content will reach 100%, and Ka-226T helicopters.
• 14 MoUs were exchanged between the Russian OEMs and the Indian companies.
The first ‘Request for Proposal’ for manufacturing of parts in India under the provision of IGA was also handed over by the Indian Navy to the identified Indian industry.
• Airbus India and Adani Defence & Aerospace signed a MoU to leverage synergies in aerospace and civil aviation sector. Airbus and Adani will explore opportunities for collaboration in the area of aircraft services for Indian and South Asian market. Airbus’ Global Services forecast envisages the Indian aircraft services market to grow to US $6.3bn by 2025.
• UVision Air Ltd, a global leader in the area of loitering munitions systems of all sizes for a variety of missions, strengthened its presence in India and announced a JV with Aditya Precitech, an Indian company, for the manufacture and marketing of loitering munitions under the brand PALM (Precision Attack Loitering Munition) Hero Systems.
The 5th Round of India-Russia Military Industrial Conference was held at Lucknow on 6 February, on the sidelines of Defexpo 2020. During the conference a total of 14 MoUs were exchanged between the Russian OEMs and the Indian companies.
During the MoU signing ceremony titled ‘Bandhan’, DRDO handed over 15 licenses for transfer of technology (LATOT) to 17 industries on DRDO developed technologies. This would enhance cooperation and synergy between industry and Government organisations. The technologies transferred were from the area of electronics, laser technology, armaments, life sciences, materials science, combat vehicles, naval systems, aeronautics, sensors, etc.
• Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) signed a MoU with RailTel Corporation of India Ltd for co-operation in the field of Cloud services, IoT, eGovernance, Smart Cities, Networks for Defence projects and mission critical Communication systems for domestic and international markets.
• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Newspace Research & Technologies Limited (NRT), Bangalore, a startup company, signed a MoU. Both enterprises seek to co-operate in the areas of design, development, manufacturing, integration, testing and supply of unmanned systems, Swarm technologies, stratospheric platforms and related payloads, and to provide lifetime support to the Indian Defence forces and non-defence customers.
• Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd (KSSL), the defence arm of Kalyani Group and Arsenal Joint Stock Company, Bulgaria signed a MoU to form a strategic alliance in India for manufacturing small arms and ammunition.
• Bharat Forge Ltd., signed a MoU with DASTAN Corp, Kyrgyzstan, engaged in development of torpedoes with advanced homing heads for shipborne and submarine platforms, used by the Indian Navy.
• Paramount Group and Bharat Forge announced strategic collaboration for indigenisation of defence and aerospace technologies. The high level collaboration agreement is to set up a JV to join the technologies, capabilities and expertise of both groups in the industrialisation and indigenisation of defence and aerospace systems.
• Larsen and Toubro (L&T) and ideaForge an Indian manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) signed a MoU to offer drones and allied systems for defence use.
• Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed an MoU to continue their existing co-operation in the field of air defence and artillery gun systems, armoured fighting vehicles, arms & ammunition and related products, systems and accessories, leveraging complementary strengths, to meet the requirements of Indian defence forces, among others.
• Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) signed an MoU with Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) for co-operation in the field of defence and non-defence products / systems to jointly capitalise on the emerging opportunities in the domestic and international market. BHEL and BEL will make joint efforts to explore markets for products individually developed or jointly developed by both companies.
• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed a tripartite MoU with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) and Elbit Systems, Israel. The MoU aims at leveraging the individual strengths of BEL, Elbit and GRSE for the development and customisation of Elbit’s unmanned surface vessels (USV) for the requirements of the Indian Navy.
• HEMRL, Pune signed technology development contract with Rosoboronexport, Russia for development of Advanced Pyrotechnic Ignition Systems.
• Bharat Forge and Thales joined hands to develop F90 rifles, which will serve the defence and law enforcement sectors in India and abroad.
Lockheed Martin signed a MoU with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to explore industrial opportunities in the F-21 programme.
• Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has signed a collaboration and marketing agreement with JSR Dynamics Pvt Ltd (JSR), a Nagpur-based start-up company. The agreement aims to leverage individual design and manufacturing capabilities of BEL and JSR to develop Glide Bombs, Range Extension Kit and Light Weight Cruise Missile.
• Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) signed a MoU with CSIR-NAL for co-operation in the field of avionics and establishing infrastructure for composite manufacturing. BEL is jointly working with CSIR-NAL in developing avionics suite for civilian aircraft Saras and Hansa. The avionics suite includes Smart Displays, Flight Control Computer, Communication Suite, surveillance system based on Millimetre Wave Radar, Multi-Function Displays, NAVCOM System, etc.
• The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) signed a MoU to help both sides in building partnerships and capabilities in the aerospace and defence sector and also to support and build on the huge opportunities for collaboration that exist between the defence industries of the UK and India. Under the MoU, the collaboration will not only advance India’s defence acquisition process but also foster long-term technology and hardware transfers.
UP chief minister Adityanath Yogi announced that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) would soon supply Dornier 19-seater civilian aircraft to UP.
Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) certificate of Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) was issued to HAL. LUH is designed and developed as a replacement for Cheetah and Chetak helicopters which are currently being operated by Indian Armed forces. LUH is a new generation helicopter in the 3-ton class incorporating the state-of-the-art technology features which will meet the emerging needs in this class of helicopters in the coming decades.
OFB launched “Sharang” the 155mm artillery gun with 36 km range and handed over a model to Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane. OFB also launched JVPC Alpha gun with 100 metres range, Light Machine Gun of 800 metres range and Under barrel Grenade launcher (UBGL).
BDL launched Amogha-3, a man portable fire and forget anti-tank guided missile. BDL also launched Varunastra – the anti-submarine torpedo, manufactured under the technological guidance of DRDO.
