IAI-BEL joint venture: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel’s leading aerospace and defense company, and Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the leading manufacturer of defence electronic products and systems for India’s defense sector, have concluded the agreements to form a joint venture that will extend product support services for India’s Defence Forces.
The announcement was made by India’s junior defence minister Ajay Bhat during the Aero India 2023 being held at Bengaluru. An agreement was signed by BEL and IAI in this regard on February 14 in Aero India in Bengaluru, India.
The partnership is another significant step in the relationship between the two companies that have a long history of association. The two companies are engaging in several joint programs that will be delivered to Indian Defence Forces.
According to a company statement, the new joint venture is being established for providing life cycle support services for MRSAM air-defence systems in the country. The new venture will have its head quarters in New Delhi, India and will provide the required technical and maintenance support to Indian Armed Forces, including the Air Force, Navy and Army.
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India’s MRSAM Missile.
MRSAM is an advanced path-breaking air and missile defence system that provides ultimate protection against a variety of aerial platforms. It is used by the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy and Israeli Defence Forces.
The MRSAM system includes an Advanced Phased Array Radar, command and control shelter, mobile launchers and interceptors with an advanced RF seeker. MRSAM is jointly developed by IAI and DRDO in collaboration with India and Israel for India’s Defence Forces.
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Establishing the Joint Venture is a strong demonstration of IAI’s support to the Indian government’s Make in India – “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (a self-reliant India in defence) vision as well as its commitment to the strong partnership with DRDO in developing and supporting advanced systems for the Indian Armed Forces. This cooperation will leverage the synergetic capabilities of both IAI and BEL, which have already been proven throughout the years in other collaborations, said the Israel’s state owned defence company.
Ajay Bhat, India’s junior minister for defence, said Israel was a very important strategic partner for India and the successful development and deployment of MRSAM System for the Indian Defence forces is a shining example for the successful joint collaboration between the two countries. The Joint Venture between the two prestigious
Companies of India and Israel will certainly play a very important role as a single point of Contact in delivering all the the product support services for the MRSAM Systems for the Indian Defence forces and a driving force for the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat (a self-reliant India) vision of the Government of India.
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IAI-BEL JV signing ceremony at Aero India 2023. Feb 15, 2023, Bengaluru, India.
Bhanu Prakash Srivastava, CMD BEL said that BEL considered IAI, Israel as a very important strategic partner.
“This Joint Venture between BEL and IAI, Israel is expected to play a pivotal role in delivering the Product Support services for MRSAM Systems and also enable substantial indigenous workshare with active participation of Indian supply chain, contributing to the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives of Government of India,” he added.
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Boaz Levy, IAI’s President and CEO said the IAI’s joint venture with BEL would leverage the best technology, innovation and talent to provide services matching the needs of our customers in India.
Boaz Levy, IAI CEO.
“It follows our announcement in 2022 about the opening of Aerospace Services India (ASI), IAI subsidiary in New Delhi, India, both of which illustrate our support of the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative and investment in India,” Boaz Levy said in a statement sent to Defence Star.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is a leading aerospace and defense company involved in design and development of state-of-the-art technologies in space, air, land, naval, cyber & homeland security for defense and commercial markets.
The company said it combines the “Start-up Nation” spirit of innovation with decades of combat-proven experience, to provide customers with tailor-made, cutting-edge solutions to the unique challenges they face including satellites, UAVs, missiles, intelligence solutions, weapon systems, air defense systems, robotic systems, radars, business jets, aerostructures, and more. Established in 1953, IAI is one of Israel’s largest technology employers with offices and R&D centers in Israel and abroad.
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Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), is a India’s state owned defence company. It was established in 1954 at Bengaluru, to meet the needs of the Indian defence services for electronics Equipment’s, Systems and Services.
Over the years BEL has grown into a multi-product, multi-technology, multi-unit company engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, supply and support of wide range of defence electronics products, and systems.
India’s BEL has a strong presence in Radar and Fire Control Systems, Weapon Systems, Communication, Network Centric Systems (C4I), Electronic Warfare Systems, Avionics, Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems & Sonars, Electro-Optics, Tank Electronics, Homeland Security, Gun Upgrades, Strategic Components, among other systems.
BEL has diversified into Arms & Ammunitions, Seekers & Missiles, Unmanned Systems, Network & Cyber security, Space Electronics, among other systems.
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