Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has signed an agreement with Tata group company Nelco for joint development and marketing of products to the Indian armed forces.
Tata manufactures vehicles in India with technology from leading international companies, such as Mercedes-Benz, and markets them both locally and overseas.
The agreement between Nelco and IAI mainly involves the development, marketing and sale of electronic weapons systems likely to suit the planned modernization of the huge Indian armed forces. The defense industry sector in India has recently been opened to partnerships with international concerns, and IAI has marked India as one of its main target markets, particularly in Asia.
Nelco, which develops software products and subsystems, recently supplied ground reconnaissance sensors to the Indian Army, in cooperation with US companies.
In the past, IAI has supplied executive jets for military uses and Green Pine missile detection radar to India. IAI currently supplies India with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), in a project likely to reach $300 million.
In addition, IAI is offering India its Phalcon early warning aircraft, may also offer the Arrow anti-ballistic missile. IAI is also assisting an Indian company in developing a UAV.
Last week, IAI’s advanced ALH aircraft was displayed in the Aero India 2003 exhibition in Bangalore, India. IAI is developing the ALH, a multi-purpose helicopter for both military and civilian use, jointly with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL).
The helicopter will include an advanced avionics package, manufactured by IAI’s Lahav plant. The package contains an electronic warfare system, day and night vision systems, and a set of flexible armaments.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on February 9, 2003