SP’s

See Us at
Hall – 8
Stall N0. 8S.3
AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION

DAY

ShowNews
Government of India
Ministry of Defence

1
Tuesday
October 18, 2022
 curtain raiser
defexpo 2022

DefExpo 2022: PUBLISHER and editor-in-chief

Jayant Baranwal

India’s ‘Path to Pride’

SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS
Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch
Principal Correspondent
The 12th edition of the exhibition is expected to be the biggest ever with 1,136 companies Ayushee Chaudhary
registered as of September for the hybrid show
CHAIRMAN & MANAGING DIRECTOR
Jayant Baranwal
planning & business development
Executive Vice President: Rohit Goel
SALES & MARKETING
Group Director: Neetu Dhulia
Deputy Director - Sales: Rajeev Chugh
LAYOUT DESIGNERS
Sr Designer: Vimlesh Kumar Yadav
Designer: Sonu S. Bisht
Group Research Associate
(file photos) Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (right)
Survi Massey
at DefExpo 2020 held in Lucknow.
Manager - HR & ADMIN
Ayushee Chaudhary Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to transform India into Bharti Sharma

A
a strong and self-reliant nation by supporting, show-
Deputy Manager – Circulation
fter being postponed in March this year, casing and forging partnerships for the Indian Aero-
amid the Ukraine-Russia war, India’s space and Defence manufacturing sectors with Indian Rimpy Nischal
biennial global exhibition is set to show- as well as global customers. To further boost ‘Atmanirb- SP’s Websites
case the prowess of the Indian Defence harta’, the DefExpo event will showcase the might of
Sr Web Developer: Shailendra Prakash Ashish
manufacturing sector. DefExpo 2022 the domestic defence industry which is now powering
preparations have been in full swing to put together ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ resolve of the Gov- Web Developer: Ugrashen Vishwakarma
Asia’s largest exhibition on land, naval, air and home- ernment and the nation at large. For the first time ever,
SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD
land security systems. Scheduled to be held from the event will be exclusively for the Indian companies.
October 18, 2022 to October 22, 2022 in Gandhinagar, Indian companies, Indian subsidiaries of For- A-133, Arjun Nagar,
Gujarat, DefExpo 2022 promises to be the largest eign OEMs, Division of companies registered in (Opposite Defence Colony)
event since its inception in 1999. India, Exhibitors having Joint Venture with an Indian New Delhi 110003, India
The exhibition is expected to be the biggest ever company were considered as Indian participants.
as 1,136 companies have registered for the event as DefExpo 2022 will also mark the celebration of one Tel: +91 (11) 24644693, 24644763,
on September 27, 2022 when the Defence Minister year of the formation of the seven new defence com- 24658322
reviewed the preparations. The final numbers are panies, carved out of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Fax: +91 (11) 24647093
expected to be higher. The event has been organised Board. All these companies will be participating for
over the largest ever total area of over one lakh sqm the first time at DefExpo. E-mail: [email protected]
(previous edition being 76,000 sqm). The Expo will also feature an India Pavilion, “a
Owned, published and printed by
Live demonstrations, ship visits & a drone show marque pavilion of Department of Defence Produc-
will take place for the general public. For the first tion, Ministry of Defence” that will showcase the Jayant Baranwal on behalf of
time, the event is being held in a four-venue format. maturity of indigenous defence products, start-ups, SP Guide Publications Pvt Ltd. All rights
The inaugural ceremony and seminars will be held at latest technology, including Artificial Intelligence in reserved. No part of this publication
Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre; defence, and will present India’s vision for 2047. It may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
Exhibition at Helipad Exhibition Centre; Live Demon- has been named ‘Path to Pride’. Over 50 start-ups will system, or transmitted in any form or
strations at Sabarmati River Front and ship visits for showcase their products at the pavilion. More than
by any means, photocopying, recording,
the public by Indian Navy & Indian Coast Guard at 300 partnerships in terms of MoUs, Transfer of Tech-
Porbandar. The biggest-ever drone-show by IIT Delhi nology agreements and product launches are being electronic, or otherwise without prior
start-up Botlabs, which is an iDEX winner, has also finalised for signing and launch at the show. written permission of the Publishers.
been organised. The same start-up did the captivating In another first, Raksha Mantri Awards for Excel-
Printed at Kala Jyothi Process Pvt Ltd,
drone show during the Beating the Retreat Ceremony lence in Defence Manufacturing will be presented
after Republic Day and have been lighting up the sky during the DefExpo. Hyderabad
www.spsshownews.com

across the country on various occasions ever since. © SP Guide Publications, 2022
In the run-up to the event, a nation-wide out- Hybrid Haven
reach was undertaken inviting the States to set-up Following the COVID-19 scenario, DefExpo 2022 is www.spguidepublications.com
pavilions and thereby partake in nation building being organised in a hybrid manner to ensure greater
through enhancing indigenous defence manufactur- engagement and outreach as exhibitors can cater to
ing. Many States are participating with a State pavil- those who are not physically present. A mobile app
ion, the Ministry informed. The enhanced number of has also been designed to streamline all information
State Pavilions, which was eight as of August, would related to the exhibitors, venue maps, speakers, driv-
also provide the opportunity for Chief Ministers, ing directions, notifications for visitors and exhibitors.
Industries Ministers, Chief Secretaries etc to solicit Alongside that, various publications would also be
investment and promote their respective States thus available on this app. An added feature to share feed-
cultivating more centres for indigenous aerospace back, including delegate hospitality management and
and defence manufacturing within the country. Also, cleanliness issues has also been included. For Advertisement / Editorial queries,
to support and ensure a greater participation by The seminars during the event will be held at please contact us at Hall-8, Stall- 8S.3
start-ups and MSMEs, 50 per cent discount on space Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre,
charges was offered. Gandhinagar in a hybrid format, enabling the speak-
ers as well as the audience to participate virtually. Photographs: SP Guide Publications
Atmanirbhar Bharat These will be streamed worldwide. The seminars will (Archive), PIB, respective OEMs and
The theme of Expo is ‘Path to Pride’, in line with Prime be conducted by the leading Industry Associations, miscellaneous

2 | Day 1 | October 18, 2022

Astra Rafael Comsys — Carving a Niche for Itself
Astra Rafael Comsys (ARC) is leveraging technological ability and indigenous manufacturing capability to actively partner the
Indian Armed Forces in a number of projects

N
etwork modernisation that ARC, with assistance from
supports manoeuvre, secure Rafael has established a full-fledged
communication with C2 and eco system of selected and relevant
the ability to leverage advanced wire- Indian subcontractors seeking man-
less technology are critical to ensure ufacturing competence in different
success in tactical missions across technological areas for various sub-
the spectrum of modern warfare assemblies and components of the
while ensuring security of the soldier. Software Defined Radio. Such efforts
The BNET broadband IP Soft- include transfer of knowledge of
ware Defined Radio (SDR), supports military grade manufacturing tech-
modern digital battlefield needs nology and integration for airborne
with high-speed, low-delay, reliable radios in several technological dis-
connectivity for broadband data, ciplines. Best in class practices have
voice and video on the move. BNET been imparted to ARC’s Indian part-
enables land, sea and air radios to ners, making them leaders in these
participate in a single, seamless and critical technologies.
scalable MANET. ARC is actively partnering the
Astra Rafael Comsys Pvt. Ltd. is Indian Army in a number of proj-
a JV company of Astra Microwave ects focussed on realisation of
Products Ltd. (AMPL), India, and net centricity at the forward edge
Rafael Advanced Defence Systems (Rafael), Israel. Setting high standards, this including platform integrated solutions for mechanised forces and infantry.
registered Start-up & AS 9100 D, ISO 14001 & EMS 27001 certified company is ARC is participating in the Army’s SDR Make II program for Manpack SDR viz.
working towards carving a niche for itself in the Defence & Aerospace segment. Design & Development of V/UHF Manpack SDR under Buy (Indian – IDDM)
ARC’s focus is on leveraging the technological ability and indigenous man- category.
ufacturing capability of AMPL combined with the state-of-the-art technology Ahead of the DEFEXPO, CEO of ARC Nataraj Krishnappa said “Focussed
expertise of Rafael to support the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces effort with our technology and JV partner at our NCW Application and Wave-
under the ‘Make in India’ program. ARC is manufacturing in India, BNET AR form Development Centre has manifested in the indigenously developed
SDR at its Hyderabad plant for supply currently to the IAF & DRDO. Besides Manpack (MPS) SDR for the Indian Army’s MAKE program. The SDR will be
Tactical Communication Systems, ARC aims to be a dominant Indian player displayed in this DEFEXPO coupled with a live demo showcasing network
in the business areas of EW, SIGINT and high-end platform based EO Systems. capabilities of the BNET SDR”. ARC is exhibiting in Hall 7, Stall No 56 & 57. 

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 curtain raiser
defexpo 2022

(file photos) DefExpo is fully supported by armed forces of the country. Seen here, at Defexpo 2020, are the then Military Leaders like
(clockwise from Top left) CDS General Bipin Rawat, COAS General M. M. Naravane, CNS Admiral Karambir Singh and CAS Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria.

Think Tanks, Indian Defence Public Sector Entities, Service Headquarters (SHQs), Start-Up Stage
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Directorate General of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), launched by Prime Minister Naren-
Quality Assurance (DGQA), Ministry of Civil Aviation and State Government etc. dra Modi in 2018, essentially provides a unified platform for various stakeholders
The theme of these seminars will broadly cover Exports, Financing and Invest- in the defence and aerospace sector. At the exhibition, the iDEX will showcase its
ments in Defence Start-ups & MSMEs, Emerging role of MSME in Aerospace startups and award its winner during its flagship event Manthan. This year iDEX
manufacturing & MRO, Atmanirbharta in Defence R&D, Futuristic Autonomous is expected to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with three new
Technologies for Air Dominance etc. Leading international and national experts partner incubators, who are leaders in venture development and science and
from the Defence and Aerospace sector are the speakers for various seminars. The technology. iDEX will also be launching a distinctive event, Invest4iDEX, inviting
details of the seminars are available on DefExpo 2022 website and mobile app. investors and venture capitalists, while providing the startups to pitch in front
of the live audience and leverage the opportunity to generate investments and
India-Africa & IOR Conclaves leads for future.
The India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave will be taking place this year too. These are times for great opportunity in the defence sector with growing focus
The 2nd edition of the India-Africa Defence Dialogue, will have several Defence on indiginisation, as well as noticing the future demands call for more advance-
Ministers from the African countries. The first one was held in Lucknow during the ment, manufacturing and defence power in the volatile geopolitical scenarios that
11th edition of DefExpo. The broad theme for this edition is ‘India–Africa: Adopt- we are witnessing around the world. Organisation of DefExpo at a large scale dur-
ing Strategy for Synergising and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation’. ing this time could prove to be crucial in the path ahead. 
The conclave would hence
focus on strengthening defence
cooperation between India and
the African continent as well as
defence exports. Discussions on
bilateral and multilateral levels to
gauge the possibility of joint ven- INDIA OPTEL LIMITED ,DEHRADUN
tures, security solutions, spare IOL – a leading Defence PSU in manufacturing of
www.spsshownews.com

parts, maintenance, and maritime Opto – Electronics systems in India.

security is also expected. Committed towards “Atmanirbhar Bharat” in Defence Production
A separate Indian Ocean & Innovation.
Region plus conclave has also been In-house up gradation & innovation in collaboration with
planned and would be another govt. and private research entities leading to new products.
key discussion. There has been an State of the Art facilities under one roof for Optical, Electronics &
increasing focus on enhancing the Mechanical production capabilities.
maritime security operations in the More than 75 years of experience in manufacturing of High-
Indian Ocean Region and towards Precision Sighting Systems, Fire Control Systems and Specialised
Cables.
strengthening the Blue Economy.
Dedicated and Skilled Workforce across all 03 units with
The Government has been taking
substantial representation of female employees.
steps towards this major defence
area as India aims to meet the col-
lective security needs of this region. Enemy Can Neither Escape Nor Hide,
The Prime Minister had also spo- When IOL Products become “Soldier’s Eye”
ken about the changing geo-stra-
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concerns in the Indo-Pacific region CIN-U31909UR2021GO1012802
as well as the Indian ocean.

4 | Day 1 | October 18, 2022

 Showcasing
3D Ecosphere in India

DRDO
participates in
PATH TO PRIDE
Date: Visit us
18-22 Oct 2022 at Hall-10

Dening India's Future in Advanced Defence Technologies

@DPIDRDO @DRDO_India @dpi.drdo www.drdo.gov.in

 Visit us at
HALL | 09
th nd
18 -22 OCTOBER, 2022

STALL |3, 4, 5, 10,

11, 12, 13, 20

th nd
18 -22 October 2022
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
 exclusive interview VCNS
defexpo 2022

‘Atmanirbharta’
in Maritime Security
Fully supporting self-reliance in defence manufacturing, Indian Navy continues to propel the domestic industry’s
growth, something that has far-reaching strategic consequences. In Part 1 of an extensive interview with Jayant
Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief, SP’s ShowNews, Vice Admiral S.N. Ghormade, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, gave a
comprehensive overview of the current and future plans of the Indian Navy.

Jayant Baranwal (Baranwal): Aircraft Carrier ecosystem, encompassing 90 OEMs, over 100 MSMEs and 500 ancillaries, 2,000
(a) Now that INS Vikrant is commissioned, where do you see the status of direct and 13,000 indirect employment. In addition, items have been sourced
IAC-2? from 18 States and Union Territories signifying the whole of nation effort.
Vice Admiral S.N. Ghormade (Ghormade): India’s aspiration as a regional power I will reiterate here that the shipbuilding industry is manpower intensive and
to safeguard its interests and those of friendly countries, can be effected through a therefore, efforts of IN towards indigenous shipbuilding aid in generation of job
near continuous presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Indian Navy is seen opportunities and enable skilling of workforce. As per KPMG, the multiplier for
as a force that provides regional stability and peace in the region. A three Carrier employment in ancillary industry for ship building is 1:6.4. For example, the total
force would be essential to provide Sea Control in the vast Indian Ocean region. shipyard manpower for Project 17A frigate is 4,000 personnel per annum. Thus,
Needless to say, the flexibility, mobility, combat potential and resilience of an Air- approximately 28,000 personnel are employed in ancillary industry for Project
craft Carrier are unmatched in conflict and has a deterrence effect during peace 17A frigate alone.
time. Further, the 24th report of the Standing Committee on Defence on Demand Indigenous construction of IAC-2 in an Indian Shipyard will provide impetus
of Grants of the Ministry of Defence for the year 2021-22, has also brought out that to the ongoing Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative of the Government, while also pro-
Indian Navy (IN) requires a third Aircraft Carrier, so that at any given occasion, viding a huge employment opportunity to the Indian populace.
two aircraft carriers are operational in either seaboard for The number of captive personnel employed for the
the Maritime Security of country. Indian Navy’s neces- IAC-1 project on a continuous basis by CSL is 2000.
sity to acquire and operate a third aircraft carrier is well Indigenous Aircraft Carrier programme provides a boost
known and acknowledged at higher level. Indian Navy’s necessity to employment generation not only in shipbuilding
to acquire and operate industry but also in ancillary industries wherein approx.
(b) Particularly when such a project can help: a third aircraft carrier is 13,000 personnel have been employed.
(i) 
Self-Reliance, strengthening & supporting More than 500 Indian firms are registered with CSL
Industrial ecosystem engaging SMEs, MSMEs well known and acknowl- towards providing various services for construction of
Ghormade: In charting a course into the future, vision- edged at higher level IAC-1. As per data provided by CSL, orders of almost
ary guidance has been enunciated by our National Lead- `300 crore have been placed on MSMEs during the last
ership. The Nation has set itself a clear goal for India in
2047– that of being a developed nation. Continued on page 15...
Be it the Prime Minister’s articulation of ‘ ’, or the single minded focus
on Atmanirbhar Bharat, or transformational initiatives such as Digital India, Skill
India, etc, - the aspirational national direction is absolutely clear. And therefore,
the Navy in 2047 must be a fully ‘Atmanirbhar’ force that is ‘combat-ready, cred-
ible, cohesive, and future-proof’ in service of the Nation. Similarly, on July 18,
2022 during NIIO Seminar, Prime Minister has directed Navy to achieve unprec-
edented heights when India celebrates 100 years of its independence.
Self-reliance in defence manufacturing is one of the key thrust areas of Gov-
ernment of India (GoI). Commissioning of INS Vikrant was an outcome of years of
hard work and perseverance by a team encompassing the Government, the Navy,
Cochin Shipyard, the Indian Defence Industry, MSMEs, innovators and the work-
force working together for a common purpose. Aptly showcasing that ‘the whole
is always greater than sum of its part’. Considerable expertise has been gained
through design & construction of INS Vikrant, this needs consolidation & conti-
nuity which will enhance affordability of Aircraft Carriers. A substantial part of
Naval budget is ploughed back into the Indian shipbuilding eco system, including
a large number of MSMEs.
Naval shipbuilding offers immense opportunity for development of dual use
technologies for both military and civilian agencies. A large number of military
solutions can be adapted to commercial/civilian usage. Such dual use avenues
include Hull equipment (Valves, Davits, Winches, Cranes), Air Conditioning,
RO Plant, Refrigeration, Robotics, Unmanned Systems, Autonomous solutions,
www.spsshownews.com

Composites, Communication and Networking, Sewage Treatment Plant, Gar-

bage disposal, Cabling, Optical Fibre, Fire Fighting and Damage Control etc.
We aim to collectively produce these products that are Made in India – Made
for India - and Make for the World – Something that has far-reaching strategic
consequences.
Going ahead, the 43 out of 45 warships that are under construction in India,
and existing 55 AoNs for ships and submarines that will be built in India, would
continue to propel the domestic industry’s growth.

(ii) Skill development & Employment generation

Ghormade: Construction of IAC-1 project at Cochin Shipyard (CSL) has
immensely contributed towards considerable skill development in design, devel- TATRA TAKES
opment of welder qualification and weld processes, integration of ship systems,
etc. Towards augmenting the strength of personnel in shipbuilding industry, skill
development of associated personnel is a given and such employable youth shall
YOU FURTHER
Find more at
.

remain an asset to the country for the coming years. This would translate into
TATRATRUCKS.COM
availability of niche products for the Navy. The fact that a warship is like a town-
ship at sea which brings in technology that is required essentially in a smart city.
With Vikrant, 76 per cent was ploughed back into the Indian ship-building

8 | Day 1 | October 18, 2022

 SPECIAL FEATURE

DRDO showcasing 430 strategic & tactical

defexpo 2022

weapon systems, defence equipment &

technologies
3D (DRDO, Designed and Developed) ecosphere is major theme

 SP’s Special Correspondent And finally, India Pavilion in the Helipad Exhibition Centre is displaying a

D
combined strength of DRDO along with public and private sectors. DRDO has
efence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is display- put its 22 products on static display. These high-value products are displayed
ing a wide range of 430 products encompassing the strategic and tacti- in the form of actual products and include – VIBHAV- Anti Tank Point Attack
cal weapon systems, defence equipment and technologies developed Munition, VISHAL- Anti Tank Bar Mine, PRACHAND- Anti Tank, 9 x 19mm
in DefExpo 2022. The major theme for this year’s DRDO participation Machine Pistol- ASMI, Mine Field marking Equipment Mk II, Light Tank, Daksh
is based on 3D (DRDO, Designed and Developed) ecosphere which Defuser, MBT Arjun Mk-1A, Light Machine Gun, Pralay, QRSAM, Carbine- 5.56
will highlight its strong linkages with both Industry as well as Academia. x 45mm, AIP System- Air Independent Propulsion, TAPAS, ASTRA Mk-I, LCA
Further, it is showcasing the advancements in technologies made by its labo- Mk2 amongst others.
ratories as well as its partnerships with the industry, in A seminar conducted by DRDO on the theme
recent years while representing a high level of indig- ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence R&D: Synergistic
enousness in advanced and futuristic defence products At DefExpo 2022, DRDO Approach’ will be held at the Mahatma Mandir Con-
& technologies that contribute towards Atmanirbharta in vention Centre in the forenoon session on October 20,
Defence. is providing numerous 2022. This will be chaired by Defence Minister. Winners
In addition, DRDO is displaying several initiatives static displays, live dem- of Dare to Dream 3 will be awarded by Defence Minister.
to deepen its strategic partnerships with Industry, and onstrations, seminars DRDO will exchange MOU with six IITs and Bharathiar
Academia. These include initiatives such as Technol- University for establishing new DIA-CoEs in presence of
ogy Development Fund, Dare to Dream, DIA- Centres as well as immersive Defence Minister. Dare to Dream 4 contest will also be
of Excellence and other similar schemes to support aca- experience zones spread declared open by Defence Minister. Minister of State for
demia, Start-ups, MSMEs and large industries to con- Defence will release a few monographs and policies.
tinuously upgrade technology readiness levels of pres-
across three locations Over the span of the exhibition, the participants and
ent and futuristic technologies in the country. All these attendees will witness a string of major events, seminars,
DRDO led initiatives have led to operational readiness of and discussions. Among these is one such event – Band-
many Indian industries, especially in the areas of systems, radars, sonars, missiles, han –designed to handover licenses of DRDO developed technologies to the
aircrafts, etc some of which are displayed at the DRDO Pavilion. industries. DefExpo 2022 will see 15 LAToTs and 10 technologies to 12 industries
At DefExpo 2022, DRDO is providing numerous static displays, live demon- in its Bandhan event. 
strations, seminars as well as immersive experience zones spread across three
locations including the Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre, Heli-
pad Exhibition Centre, and Sabarmati River Front.
The venue for DRDO Pavilion is Hall no. 10 of Helipad Exhibition Centre. It is
segmented in 17 display zones of various classes including Immersive Zones and
PATH TO PRIDE
Experience Zones to showcase 376 products. These 17 zones are namely Engines
& Propulsion, Aerospace & Aeronautics (UAVs, fighter aircrafts, aircraft for surveil-
lance etc), Sensors, Devices & Advanced Electronics, Naval Weapons & Systems
(EW systems and Sensors), Armoured Vehicles & Land Systems, Armament, Guns
& Ammunition, Materials, Missiles (Cruise, MBRLs, AAM, ATGM & MRSAM),
BrahMos, Industry Partners in R&D (17 Partners-3 Start-ups &14 MSMEs), Soldier
Support and Dual Use Technologies (Soldier support, LS products, Fire protec-
tion, Firefighting, Fuel & Energy, Food products etc), Experience Zone (Simulator,
Virtual Reality and Audio-Visual), Software AI & Cyber, Academic Zone, Academic
Outreach, Industry Outreach and Public Interface.
Several technologies developed for land based, naval and air-based systems are
showcased through experience zones – a closed room immersive cinematic experi-
ence. In a first, Advanced Combat Aircraft (AMCA) simulator will be made available
to experience, among other augmented and virtual reality Naval, Land and Air prod-
uct simulators. A holographic deck providing a 3D experience of over 30 defence
products is present at the hall to gain insights into the intricacies of weapon designs.
Over a sprawling 1200 sq. mtr. outdoor display, 18 Outdoor static exhibits
www.spsshownews.com

(actual products) are also put on display at the Helipad Exhibition Centre. These
include Border Surveillance System (BOSS), Laser Fence System (LFS), IRDE
Tableau, BrahMos Air Version Missile, Mobile Autonomous Launcher (MAL) for
BrahMos, CBRN Water Purification System, Infantry Combat Vehicle with Com- ATAGS
posite Hull (CICV), Advanced Composites Modular Bridge System (ACMBS), (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System)
155mmX52 Cal Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), CBRN Water
Purification System, CBRN Recce Vehicles, 70 T Tank Transporter, Wheeled Se ng ‘Gold Standard’ Globally for Towed �r�llery Gun in the 155mm/52Cal segment
Armoured Platform (WhAP), Prahar Missile, Rudram III Missile, Quick reaction • Fired at 13,000+ feet height in Sikkim, crea�ng new record which no other 155mm gun has reached and

Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM), Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM), fired, thus proving endurance and reliability
• Successfully completed 500+ kms in treacherous high-al�tude terrain up to 15,400 feet and proving ease
Mounted Gun System (MSG), Unmanned Ground Mobile Platform (UGMP).
of mobility
DRDO is presenting Live Demo as well as Static Display of equipment at the • World record with longest firing range of 48.074 km (HE-ERFB BB), thus proving range

Sabarmati River Front. Five Live demo of DRDO equipment are being put on display • System has the phenomenal ability to fire in zone 7 charge (only gun in the segment with larger chamber

namely – Portable Diver Detection Sonar (PDDS) with Electro Optic System (EOS), volume), thus proving lethality
• Shortest Turning Circle Diameter for any towed gun of 155mm/ 52cal calibre with patented technology,
Imaging Sonar ‘CHITR’, Autonomous Survey Vehicle – Inland, Autonomous Survey thus proving innova�on
Vehicle -Coastal (ASV- Coastal) and Weapon Mounted Surface Vehicle. Whereas six
static displays of DRDO equipment presented are AIR Independent Propulsion Sys-
tem, Virtual Reality based counter measure deployment simulator, TAL Torpedo,
Portable Diver Detection Sonar, Wet End Unit, Counter Drone System for IN – D4
Radar, Soft Kill System and Hard Kill System, and Passive IRSS Device. Mundhwa, Pune - 411 036. Tel: +91-20-6704 2777 / 2868 | contact.defence@bhara�orge.com | www.bhara�orge.com

10 | Day 1 | October 18, 2022

 SPECIAL FEATURE

VTOL: Transforming Tactical UAS Operations

defexpo 2022

IAI’s newly extended UAS family now offers vast and agile operational capabilities

(Left) WanderB VTOL Mini UAV; (Right) ThunderB VTOL Small Tactical UAV

 SP’s Special Correspondent

BlueBird Completes Delivery

I
AI’s family of VTOL-UAS provide a new, middle tier between the Heron MALE of 100 VTOL UAVs
and small, mini-tactical drones. Developed and produced by IAI’s subsidiary

B
BlueBird Aero Systems, the ThunderB and WanderB drones merge the capa- lueBird Aero Systems, partially ally emerging trend of VTOL UAVs,
bilities of small tactical drone and multi-rotor drone, unbound to airfields or owned by Israel Aerospace which provide important benefits
complex launch, retrieval and long turnaround cycles. They are optimised for Industries (IAI), completed the for land and maritime applications
simple use at the low echelon in all terrains, including maritime environment, delivery of 100 WanderB-VTOL UAVs as they combine the advantages
and provide excellent intelligence products, delivering services that were previ- to a European customer. The Vertical of a fixed-wing UAV (long-range,
ously rendered only by large platforms. Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAVs are long-endurance, high speed, wind
part of a transaction involving over independency, large area coverage,
Introducing the VTOL Family 150 WanderB-VTOL and ThunderB- etc) with the advantages of a multi-
The ThunderB-VTOL and WanderB-VTOL are both hybrid fixed-wing UAVs, offer- VTOL UAVs worth tens of millions copter (ability to take off and land
ing high operational flexibility and combine the advantages of a fixed-wing UAV of dollars. This is the world’s largest in confined areas, accurate, safe and
with the benefits of a multi-copter. As fixed-wing platforms, they offer Extended number of VTOL UAVs delivered to damage-free landing, etc). The asset
endurance, high-speed operation in harsh environments, large area coverage, any customer at one time, and was and capability combination of IAI
silent operation, and ability to glide to safe landing. As multi-rotor platforms, they completed within the agreed time- and BlueBird is expected to yield
have the ability to take off and perform a soft and accurate landing in small and table despite COVID-19 conditions. additional breakthrough operational
limited areas, such as on ships in mid-sea, small forest clearings or flat rooftops in The transaction reflects a glob- solutions on the market. 
urban areas. They can also hover over an area of interest when needed. This is done
without the logistical footprint required to support the takeoff and landing of small
tactical fixed-wing platforms. operating at low altitude, deep in hostile territory. Reduction of size, compared
These innovative and versatile systems are designed to conduct covert, real- to large platform, further reduces the platform’s visible and radar signature.
time, “over-the-hill” or extended range operations, in day-and-night, collecting • Speed: Platforms relying on fixed-wing designs can achieve higher cruise and
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), pro- dash speed, gaining transit and cruising speeds dozens of knots faster than
vide rapid tactical mapping on demand (TMOD), through GPS marked, High- multirotor drones designed for equivalent weight and size specifications.
Definition (HD) photogrammetric video processing. • Payloads: Designed to operate on long missions with large payloads, VTOL-
UAS are designed around the payload to meet mission requirement with an
VTOL-UAS Advantages optimal platform weight and size. With three payload attachment points they
• Operational Flexibility: Operations in urban areas, forests and jungles and can operate a compact radar, EO/IR and SIGINT/COMINT. The payload bays
maritime environment often lack adequate areas for the launch and retrieval and attachments are designed to open standards, enabling users to add mis-
of drones. In these environments the VTOL-UAS transforms to a large multi- sion payloads from other OEMs, what makes the platform and entire solution
rotor drone that blends the vertical access and hovering capability with the as competitive and affordable as possible.
speed, mission endurance and low signature typical of the fixed-wing, forward • Redundancy: Multi-rotor drones have little redundancy as they need all rotors
flight regime. Add these to low-cost benefits (no runway needed, less crew- to generate lift, thus, any failure of a rotor, motor or flight system leads to mis-
members to operate, and less equipment) and you get a winning solution for sion abort, immediate descent and emergency landing or crash. The VTOL-
www.spsshownews.com

tactical military/civil operations. UAS has two lift systems that provide redundancy for the critical landing phase.
  VTOL-UAS become very useful in operations from enclosed space, such as The electric quadrotor generates the lift for the vertical landing, but the drone
the small decks onboard ships or offshore platforms. Since their flight is more can also perform landing using parachute, airbag or skid on a flat surface in
efficient, VTOL-UAS can carry heavier payloads, compared to multi-rotor case of emergency, in case of partial or complete rotor system failure due to
drones. Such payloads can include small radars, multiple EO/IR gimballed mechanical or combat damage.
payloads and SIGINT. Performing missions with long-endurance, VTOL-UAS
launched and operated from ships at sea can cover wide areas, deep at sea and Leading the VTOL Generation
far from land. With clear and proven benefits to the user, VTOL-UAS have the potential to trans-
• Mission Economy: Since each of the flight phases uses a propulsion system form tactical drone operations. The market is converting to the new technology
optimized for it, the combined propulsion system is energy efficient. The four that offers many benefits to the users, as they realised the performance and logis-
rotors providing the lift for vertical flight and hover can operate with rotors tic advantages of this new capability. All branches of the US military are already
and RPM optimized for lift, while the forward flight is supported by low-drag moving in this direction, as other military forces and commercial users worldwide.
and low RPM propellers and motors for higher speed and longer endurance. BlueBird Aero Systems and IAI are among the few pioneers in this field, who have
Designers can choose between electric, hybrid-electric or piston engine delivered and fielded systems on a large scale to a number of users. Unlike other
motors, to meet the mission requirements with best performance. manufacturers that rely on third-party systems quadrotor system, the IAI-BlueBird
• Signature Reduction: Using electrical propulsion, propellers and rotors opti- Aero Systems drones use ITAR-free, bespoke VTOL system developed in-house
mized to perform effectively, reduces the acoustic signature, in addition, com- that is optimised for each platform. This new capability offers significant advantage
paring to “standard” multicopter, by operating a fixed-wing platform that just to the user, by reducing the logistic footprint required for operational deployment
vertically takeoff and land, provides an important tactical advantage when with tactical forces. 

12 | Day 1 | October 18, 2022

 special story
defexpo 2022

Building Indigenous Capabilities for

Atmanibharta in Indian Aerospace
and Defence
Boeing has deepened its engagement with current and potential suppliers to enhance their capabilities and
deliver high quality products

 Salil Gupte, been delivered by TBAL for Boeing customers around the globe, including in
President, Boeing India India. A true example that supports the Prime Minister’s call for “Make in India,

I
for the World”.
ndia is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and offers enor- Boeing believes that the maturation and development of India’s local MRO
mous growth opportunities. At Boeing, as we reflect on our own journey in the ecosystem is an imperative for success in the Indian market, and to enable faster
country over the last 75 plus years, we feel privileged and proud to have been turnaround times, and higher operability and mission-readiness critical for its
part of the development of the indigenous aerospace and defence capabilities Indian customers. The efforts and initiatives being undertaken by Boeing in India
in India. Aerospace and defence aficionados know that Boeing’s relationship are aimed at building capability and capacity of indigenous organisations to gain
with India goes back to the 1940s when the Indian Air Force enlisted two Boeing prominence on a global scale.
aircraft: The T-6 Texan, and the C-47 Skytrain military transport. From then on In 2021, Boeing launched the Boeing India Repair Development and Sustain-
through the years, Boeing has continuously invested in local capacity building and ment (BIRDS) program in its effort to help develop India into a regional MRO
has collaborated with Indian organisations across manufacturing, infrastructure, hub, enabling engineering, maintenance, skilling, repair and sustainment ser-
engineering services, research and technology, training and skills development. vices of defence and commercial aircraft right here in India, for India. Under this
Our contribution to the nation is not limited only to our products and services, it program, we signed strategic partnerships with leading indigenous players like
goes beyond to build capability and capacity for indigenous players to become an Horizon Aerospace, Air Works, and AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL). An
integral part of the global defence and aerospace industry. important aspect of the hub is training programs to increase skilled manpower
Boeing’s sourcing from India stands at $1 billion annually through its large by developing sub-tier suppliers and medium, small and micro enterprises
and growing network of 300+ supplier partners that are an integral part of our (MSMEs) to build high quality MRO capabilities in India. Our programs have
global supply base. These Indian companies are manufacturing and exporting skilled more than 3,700 frontline aerospace manufacturing workers and aircraft
systems and components for some of Boeing’s most advanced products from maintenance engineers.

(Left) Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited facility in Hyderabad;

(right) Elevation of the upcoming Boeing engineering and technology campus in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

India to the world. We are proud to be working with indigenous manufactures The Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center (BIETC) in India is
such as Dynamatic Technologies, Rossell Techsys, SASMOS HET Technologies, leveraging a talented pool of 3,000+ engineers and innovators across Bengaluru
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), and Jaivel Aerospace, among many more who and Chennai to drive growth and innovation in aerospace. The center currently
www.spsshownews.com

are building critical components for some of our global platforms such as the houses Boeing’s Engineering, Test, Research and Technology, Information Tech-
F-15EX Eagle II, V-22 Osprey, CH-47 Chinook, F/A-18 Super Hornet, P-8 and the nology and Digital Analytics teams. These technologists undertake high-quality,
T-7A Red Hawk. Our commitment to build supplier relationships and foster an advanced aerospace work and offer engineering expertise to Boeing’s defence,
environment of transparency and collaboration at each step, has helped in accel- space, and commercial businesses, spanning engineering design of structures
erating productivity improvements and operational efficiencies year after year. and systems, manufacturing support, developing systems to test our aircraft, and
These relationships have grown to the extent that today the focus has moved from providing digital solutions to our airline customers. Cutting-edge R&D in tradi-
“supplier management” to” supply chain management”. A testimony of our com- tional and emerging areas is performed at the center, including next-generation
mitment is reflected in the recent “Supplier of the year” award for 2022, which was airplane health management, environment-friendly coatings, advanced networks
won by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), among more than 11,000 suppli- and secure-communications where teams leverage new-age technologies such
ers worldwide. We are proud that today, as we have deepened our engagement as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet-of-Things, Cloud, Model-
with current and potential suppliers to enhance their capabilities and deliver Based Engineering, and Additive Manufacturing to enhance quality, safety, and
high quality products, we have also helped in creating jobs and bolstering India’s productivity. We are investing $200M in a new 43-acre state-of-the-art wholly-
manufacturing sector. owned engineering and technology campus in Bengaluru. This will be Boeing’s
Our joint venture with Tata, Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), in largest facility of its kind outside the US.
Hyderabad, in its sixth year of operation, the 14,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art facil- India’s defence sector is poised for growth, and Boeing is committed to support-
ity employs over 500 engineers and technicians, and demonstrates co-develop- ing and enabling this progress. We believe that building capabilities indigenously will
ment of integrated systems in aerospace and defence in India. The TBAL facility drive innovation and contribute to the growth of the Indian aerospace and defence
in Hyderabad manufactures hundreds of Apache fuselages for customers around industry. The future looks promising and Boeing’s vision for India continues to be to
the world, including for the US Army. As of September 2022,170+ fuselages have bring the best of Boeing to India and take the best of India to the world. 

14 | Day 1 | October 18, 2022

 SPECIAL report

defexpo 2022
Modern and Quality Ammunition for the Battlefield
M
unitions India Limited (MIL) is a Defence Our foreign customers include countries
Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the located in North America, South America, Europe,
Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Africa and Asia. The patronage we receive from our
MIL, the India’s biggest manufacturer and customers both in India and abroad reflects their
market leader is engaged in Production, Testing faith in quality of our products and services. We are
Research & Development and Marketing of com- the force behind the Armed Forces.
prehensive range of ammunition & explosives for MIL with its 12 manufacturing units pro-
Army, Navy, Air force & Para-Military Forces. vide:
With Corporate Office at Pune (India), MIL in • A broad and versatile production base with
its 12 state-of-the-art manufacturing units located multi-technology capabilities
across the country employs skilled workforce of • State-of-the-art manufacturing facilities
around 25,000. These factories have proven inte- • Large pool of skilled and professionally quali-
grated base for production of Small, Medium & fied manpower and managerial personnel
High calibre ammunition, Mortars, Rockets, Hand • Strict adherence to quality standards (all units
(from Left) 7.62 x 51 Nato Tracer; 125 mm SCCC; 125 mm
Grenades etc. with in-house manufacturing of Ini- are ISO-9000 certified)
FSAPDS; 84 mm Heat 751; Pinaka Rocket.
tiatory Compositions, Propellants and High Explo- • Original as well as adaptive Research &
sives for over 150 years. Our primary objective is to provide competitive edge to the Development to make need-base refinement and modifications
Armed Forces by equipping them with modern and quality battlefield ammunition. • A strong base for industrial training & testing 

‘Atmanirbharta’...Continued from page 8

ten years. Therefore, the shipyard has generated
significant business opportunities for SMEs/
MSMEs.
(c) Chinese Fujian – 3rd Aircraft Carrier

MAKING IN INDIA
The programme has been reported as a Goa Shipyard Ltd
‘message to its rivals’. How do you perceive this
programme of China – an unpredictable neigh-
bourhood?
Ghormade: The Chinese Aircraft Carrier pro-
gramme is an extension of the Chinese Maritime
Capability expansion and it is part of a natural
progression. The Indian Navy has already put in
FOR THE WORLD
place a force accretion programme to meet our
maritime security needs and maintain its primacy
in the Indian Ocean Region.

Jayant Baranwal: Carrier borne Fighter

(a) When can we get to see the finalisation of
this requirement?
Ghormade: In order to meet the Indian Navy’s
long term requirement of a next generation deck
based fighter, Navy is pursuing the Twin Engine
Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) programme with
DRDO. The TEDBF is an indigenous effort to meet
future requirements and envisaged as a replace-
ment of the MiG-29K/KuB which will strengthen
our resolve for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. The exist-
ing inventory of MIG-29K aircraft are inadequate
to meet the total number of fighters required to
operate from both the aircraft carriers. Thus, it
is extremely important for the Navy to procure
additional multirole carrier borne fighters as an
interim augmentation of fighter aircraft till fructi-
fication of TEDBF Project.

(b) Can you remind us as to what are the key

features/key expectations out of this par-
ticular requirement?
Ghormade: TEDBF would be a Twin Engine Deck
Based Fighter which would operate from IN Air- BUILDING FUTURISTIC &
POTENT PLATFORMS
craft Carriers. TEDBF would be developed by
ADA, a DRDO agency, and is intended to perform
multitude of mission with indigenous Weapons,
Avionics and Sensors.
18-22 GSL STAND 2R.19, SWARNIM PARK
(c) Any plan for 5th Generation Fighter pro-
OCT HALL No. 2 & HELIPAD EXHIBITION

2022
gramme? CENTRE, SECTOR 17
Ghormade: TEDBF is designed to meet the
requirement of 5th Generation fighter specific to
STATIC DISPLAY GANDHINAGAR,
IN operations.  10 am onwards AREA OD.12 GUJARAT

For full interview,

please refer to SP’s Naval Forces Issue 5/2022; - goashipyardltd
www.spsnavalforces.com goashipyard.in

15 | Day 1 | October 18, 2022

 SPECIAL FEATURE

Lockheed Martin Showcases Commitment

defexpo 2022

to a Self-Reliant India
The company will showcase an expansive portfolio from its Aeronautics, Rotary & Mission Systems, and Missiles and Fire Control business areas

(Left) F-21 fighter ; (right) MH-60R SEAHAWK

 SP’s Special Correspondent

L
ockheed Martin will showcase its diverse portfolio of defence capabili-
ties and solutions at DefExpo India 2022. The company’s exhibit this
year includes a broad span of advanced technologies from the Aero-
nautics, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Missiles and Fire Control
business areas.
“Lockheed Martin is committed to assisting in
the growth of India’s strategic security capabilities
and the advancement of its defence manufacturing
ecosystem. Our joint ventures with Tata and indus-
trial relationships with many Indian companies-
such as Ashok Leyland, Lakshmi Machine Works,
Midhani, Rossell Techsys, and SASMOS among
others are a testament to the success of the gov-
ernment of India’s mission to create ‘Atmanirbhar
Bharat’ in the defence sector,” said William L. Blair,
Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin India Pvt. Ltd.
“Participating at DefExpo 2022 gives us the
opportunity to showcase our advanced technolo- C-130J
William L. Blair gies and innovative capabilities directly to the larg-
est gathering of defence and aerospace partners and India’s workhorse, C-130J Super Hercules airlifter, which represents a strong
our customers in India,” Blair said. “We look forward to engaging with our custom- legacy of partnership between India and the US, also will be on display at the
ers and industry partners to discuss their key priorities for advancement of India’s Lockheed Martin booth. The IAF uses its fleet to support a variety of missions,
national security, indigenous production and human capital development agendas.” from cargo delivery to providing vital humanitarian aid including in the wake of
The prime attraction at Lockheed Martin’s booth this year will be one of the the COVID-19 pandemic as well as for transportation of relief materials, equip-
most technologically advanced complex aerostructures— a “Made in India”, fuel- ment and personnel in the areas affected by cyclones Yaas and Tauktae.
carrying, 9G, 12,000 hour, interchangeable/replaceable fighter wing. This wing was The S-92 helicopter, best in class for safety and reliability, will also boost Lock-
manufactured at the Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) facil- heed Martin’s presence at the show. The S-92 helicopter recently surpassed 2 mil-
ity in Hyderabad. The TLMAL joint venture exemplifies the government of India’s lion fleet flight hours which is a testament to the reliability of the multi-mission
“Make in India” goals and also serves as the single global source of C-130J empen- aircraft.
www.spsshownews.com

nage assemblies installed on all new Super Hercules aircraft. To date, TLMAL has As part of the Javelin Joint Venture, Lockheed Martin also produces the Javelin
manufactured and exported more than 180 C-130J empennages. anti-tank guided missile system. This versatile and effective one-man-portable
The F-21 fighter aircraft, which is on offer to the Indian Air Force (IAF) will also and platform-employed multi-target precision weapon system provides capabil-
occupy a prominent place at Lockheed Martin’s booth. The company is leverag- ity to defeat a broad spectrum of close combat threats on the modern battlefield.
ing both 4th and 5th generation technologies to offer the best solution to meet Using fire-and-forget technology, the weapon guides itself to the target without
or exceed the IAF’s capability needs, provide Make in India industrial opportuni- external commands, allowing soldiers to take cover or reposition. With a range
ties, and accelerate India-United States cooperation on advanced technologies, of 65 meters to 4 kilometers in most operational conditions, as well as the abil-
including but not limited to fighter aircraft. The F-21 demonstrates Lockheed ity to operate through adverse weather and battlefield obscurants, Javelin can be
Martin’s commitment to delivering a technologically advanced, single-engine deployed in a variety of environments and conditions.
fighter to the IAF — For India, From India. Lockheed Martin continues to build upon more than seven decades of asso-
The Indian Navy’s acquisition of MH-60R “Romeo” multi-mission helicopter ciation and threedecades of partnerships with India by nurturing and expand-
is another highlight for Lockheed Martin at the show. The MH-60R is the world’s ing collaborations with local industry to support the foundation of indigenous
most advanced maritime helicopter and brings vital anti-submarine and anti-sur- defence manufacturing ecosystem. The company’s present and future pro-
face warfare capabilities to the Indo-Pacific region. The US Navy has already deliv- grammes in India range from transport, maritime and fighter aircraft, to sea and
ered the first three aircraft to the Indian Navy in 2021 and these aircraft are being land-based air and missile defence projects, as well as capabilities in civil sectors
utilised to train Indian pilots and crew members in California. In July-August including new and renewable energy.
2022, the US Navy transported to India another three helicopters, which will be Lockheed Martin’s presence at the show will be in strict accordance with
initially based at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi. A total of 24 MH-60Rs will COVID-19 protocols laid down by the Ministry of Defence and state government
be delivered in country over the next few years. to ensure the safety of employees and visitors. 

16 | Day 1 | October 18, 2022

 SPECIAL report

defexpo 2022
INS Arihant Carries out DRDO & Indian Army
Successful Launch of Conduct Flight-tests of
Submarine Launched Quick Reaction Surface to
Ballistic Missile Air Missile System
D
efence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) and Indian
Army have successfully completed six
flight-tests of Quick Reaction Surface to Air
Missile (QRSAM) system from Integrated Test
Range (ITR) Chandipur off the Odisha coast.
The flight tests were conducted as part of
evaluation trials by the Indian Army.
The flight-tests were carried out against
high-speed aerial targets mimicking various
types of threats to evaluate the capability of
the weapon systems under different scenar-
ios, including long range medium altitude, short range, high altitude manoeu-
vring target, low radar signature with receding & crossing target and salvo launch
with two missiles fired in quick succession. The system performance was also
evaluated under day and night operation scenarios.
INS Arihant
During these tests, all the mission objectives were met establishing pin-point
accuracy of the weapon system with state-of-the-art guidance and control algo-

I
NS Arihant carried out a successful launch of a Submarine Launched Ballistic rithms including warhead chain. The performance of the system has been con-
Missile (SLBM) on October 14, 2022. The missile was tested to a pre-determined firmed from the data captured by a number of Range instruments like Telemetry,
range and impacted the target area in the Bay of Bengal with very high accu- Radar and Electro Optical Tracking Systems (EOTS) deployed by ITR. Senior offi-
racy. All operational and technological parameters of the weapon system have cials from DRDO and the Indian Army participated in the launches.
been validated. These tests were conducted in the final deployment configuration consisting of
The successful user training launch of the SLBM by INS Arihant is significant all indigenously-developed sub-systems, including the missile with indigenous Radio
to prove crew competency and validate the SSBN programme, a key element of Frequency (RF) seeker, mobile launcher, fully automated command and control sys-
India’s nuclear deterrence capability. A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory tem, surveillance and multi-function Radars. The uniqueness of the QRSAM weapon
capability is in keeping with India’s policy to have ‘Credible Minimum Deter- system is that it can operate on the move with search and track capability & fire on
rence‘ that underpins its ‘No First Use’ commitment.  short halt. This has been proven during the mobility trials conducted earlier. 

17 | Day 1 | October 18, 2022

 special story
defexpo 2022

GRSE: Strengthening Indian

Armada Through Indigenisation
GRSE is at the cusp of a major transformation facilitated by its knowledge, skill levels and operational
capabilities gained over the years

 Cmde P.R. Hari (Retd), ation and contributing to skill development, infrastructure upgrade and employ-
Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE Ltd. ment generation in West Bengal.

S
et up in 1884 to repair vessels of River Steam Navigation Company, GRSE The Art of Warship Design
has several achievements to its credit in its long journey. After its acqui- GRSE’s in-house design capability remains its major area of strength with the
sition by Government in India in 1960, GRSE has built 788 platforms multi-disciplinary 100-plus design team working towards developing various
including warships for Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and Govern- concept designs for current and future warship projects aided by state-of-the-art
ment of Mauritius & Seychelles Coast Guard. From Frigates, Corvettes, Virtual Reality Lab. Offshore Patrol Vessel, Landing Craft Utilities, Survey Vessels
Fleet Tankers, Landing Ship Tank, Landing Craft Utility to Survey Vessels, Offshore (Large) and ASW Shallow Water Crafts have been designed in-house by GRSE.
Patrol Vessels and Fast Attack Craft - the repertoire is rich and varied. Making 107 VR Lab resolves design issues in a very short time with reliability and accuracy.
warships for the Indian & foreign maritime forces, GRSE has record of building The lab also shows 3D models in virtual environment to assist the production and
and delivering the highest number of warships by any Indian shipyard till date. customers to get faster approval of the ship system. The company’s Design and
With proven credentials, the shipyard is on a growth path, reaffirming its motto R&D Department has received recognition from the Department of Scientific and
“In Pursuit of Excellence and Quality in Shipbuilding. Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology, for its performance.
Rooted in the nation’s vision of attaining Atmanirbharata in defence, Garden GRSE has its competitive edge as the shipyard has modernised infrastruc-
Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), a premier warship-building company tures to undertake integrated shipbuilding using advanced modular construc-
in India, is at the cusp of a major trans- tion technology to facilitate construction
formation facilitated by its knowledge, of larger ships in reduced timeframe.
skill levels and operational capabilities With modernised infrastructure facilities
gained over the years. With brand equity, across three production locations, GRSE
a healthy balance sheet and a dedicated is today in a position to construct 20
team at the helm, the Mini Ratna Category Warships concurrently using Advanced
1 Public Sector Company, GRSE is playing Modular Integrated Shipbuilding Tech-
a key role in defence preparedness of India nology in line with the best in the world.
by producing the most modern warships
through indigenisation and strengthening Engineering
the Indian armada.The company’s order The Bailey Bridge division of the com-
book stands at `24,100 crore as on March pany has been keeping pace with the
31, 2022. GRSE’s vision is to be globally ship division in its R&D efforts in design-
recognised as the best Indian Shipyard and ing and developing new products. The
also become a Navratna Company by 2030. division has developed and successfully
carried out trials of new products includ-
Ongoing Projects ing first-of-its-kind Man Portable Pedes-
The ongoing projects include construc- trian Assault Bridge, which is made of
tion of 24 ships & vessels under seven light weight carbon fibre reinforced com-
prestigious projects - Frigates (P17A), launch of the Y- 3023 Dunagiri, Project 17A frigate built by the Garden posite material for the Indian Army, 140
Survey Vessels (Large), ASW Shallow Reach Shipbuilders Limited (GRSE), in Kolkata on July 15, 2022 feet Double Lane (7.50 m wide) and 190
Water Crafts (ASW-SWC) for Indian Navy, feet Single Lane modular bridge, both
Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) for Indian Coast Guard, Next Generation Electric Ferry for being 70R class load capacity and made of 7 feet panels.
Government of West Bengal, Ocean Going Passenger cum Cargo Ferry Vessel for GRSE is the only organisation in India qualified by DGQA, for the prestigious
Republic of Guyana and Patrol Boats for a government agency of Bangladesh. Con- Green Channel Certification for the Bailey Type Portable Steel Bridges. So far,
currently, the shipyard is undertaking measures to strengthen internal processes, GRSE has supplied more than 5,500 portable steel bridges to Indian Army, Border
systems, and infrastructure and cost effectiveness. Several new initiatives have also Road Organisation, State PWDs, Central Government and friendly neighbour-
been launched under the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ drive. hood countries.

Indigenising Warship Building Digital India Initiatives

As part of Make in India initiatives of Ministry of Defence, GRSE has made com- To maintain its competitive edge, the company is shifting to smart manufactur-
www.spsshownews.com

mendable progress by successfully incorporating a high percentage of indigenous ing (Industry 4.0), through thrust on innovations in automation, robotics and the
equipment fit into the ships being built for the Indian Navy and Indian Coast industrial internet of things. It is also introducing Artificial Intelligence, Machine
Guard. This is evident on-board Kamorta class ASW Corvettes, the first warship Learning, Interoperability and secured connectivity enabling real time monitor-
built in the country with indigenous DMR steel and overall 90 per cent indigenous ing. This control and optimization of processes, resources and systems is expected
content with a unique feature of superstructure made of carbon fibre composite to help in workload consolidation across design, production & supply chain man-
material. The Landing Craft Utility (LCU) ships, designed in-house by GRSE also agement, significantly in the future.
achieved similar distinction. The company so far has delivered eight such LCU Mk In its journey towards digitisation in strengthening the operation and ship-
IV ships to the Indian Navy. building efficiency, GRSE in collaboration with IIT Kharagpur has developed an AI
The delivery of Fast Patrol Vessel – ‘SCG PS Zoroaster’ to the Seychelles Coast Enabled Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) mechanism which aims to replace man-
Guard in February 2021 and orders for supply of “Ocean Going Passenger cum ual inspection with automated inspection by using Industry 4.0 techniques such
Cargo Ferry Vessel” from Government of Guyana and Patrol boats for Fisheries as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning & Deep Learning. A first of its kind
Department of Bangladesh, to support the vision of ‘SAGAR’, bear testimony to AI based HR Chatbot ‘Ask ANVESHA’ by GRSE was launched to provide employ-
GRSE’s thrust for exports and realigning marketing strategies to match with the ees digital access to their personal documents. The cloud-based Chatbot enables
dynamic global environment. These orders were bagged through competitive bid- employees to access individual data like Payslip, PF statement, Form-16 etc.
ding with international players in the fray. Adopting the latest technology with respect to security of infrastructure and
GRSE & Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Kolkata jointly inaugurated the GRSE- other assets, GRSE has established an Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled high end
KPDD Khidderpore Dry Dock Unit in Kolkata for the development & utilisation of CCTV network across its five units in Kolkata apart from other initiatives such as
three existing dry docks. The project aims to explore new business opportunities Face Recognition System, Document Management System (DMS) for paperless
in ship repair & refit of defence & commercial segments leading to revenue gener- environment etc. 

18 | Day 1 | October 18, 2022

 special story

defexpo 2022
‘Rolls-Royce ready to Partner
with India for Combat Engine
Development’
A co-development programme that leads to capability creation and would allow India to look at opportunities
to accelerate the development of its defence ecosystem

 Alex Zino, developed in India, for India and the global market, and the know-why rests within
Executive Vice President – Business Development and the country, there is a great opportunity for it to leapfrog its status as a supplier to
Future Programmes (Defence), Rolls-Royce the global market. At Rolls-Royce, we are committed to supporting the self-reliance

A
vision of India and are keen to enable co-development opportunities in defence.
s the world witnesses shifting geopolitical dynamics, India is look-
ing to take a more prominent role on the international stage. The Rolls-Royce: Committed to India’s Indigenisation Goals
country is focused on strengthening its defence systems and has Rolls-Royce has pioneered several initiatives in India, from powering the first
also taken strides to pursue its vision of self-reliance in defence. The aircraft of the Indian Air Force to the first Make in India story, having delivered
‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ the first whole engine technol-
clarion call is encouraging the sec- ogy transfer agreement and first
tor to strengthen manufacturing licensed production of Rolls-Royce
capabilities, as well as indigenise engines in India along the way. We
defence technologies. In line with are committed to building on this
this, India is pursuing the combat foundation, with supportto India’s
engine programme, which would combat engine development pro-
give an operational boost to the gramme a natural next step.
Indian Air Combat Capability and With a rich history of engine
catapult India’s military prowess, technology development, Rolls-
to become a nation capable of Royce is a global leader particu-
developing and designing technol- larly in the gas-turbine based aero-
ogies that only a handful of nations engine market. The company has a
can do today. powerful track record of certifying
As we have seen with other new aeroengines every 18 months
combat air programmes across the over the last two decades, a sig-
globe, collaboration is key. Explor- nificant feat considering the com-
ing joint design and development plexity, technology and expertise
programmes can help accelerate required.
transfer of capabilities and trans- Today, we are well-positioned
fer of technology. This capability in the country with a strong eco-
development is not only about the system of Indian partners, tal-
theoretical transfer of technology ent, supply chain, digital, service
and know-how, but the practical delivery and manufacturing capa-
transfer of know-why, which will bilities, as well as global expertise
ensure long-term benefits for India in co-development with other
including customisation, auton- nations. We are building a pipeline
omy and capabilities for future of talent in India, both in-house
programmes. and through our partners. We are
well-equipped to support the pro-
Striking the Right gramme with technological exper-
Collaboration is Key to tise as well, as a proven history of
Success capability creation for the supply
For such a co-development pro- chain and manufacturing ecosys-
gramme to be a success collabo- tem to meet global standards. It is
ration with like-minded partners, only a matter of time before such
who are committed to true self- technology development will leap-
reliance through co-creation of frog ‘Make in India’ from catering
both technology and capability, to the domestic defence needs to
will be key. The United Kingdom ‘Design and Develop in India for
(UK) is a strong and natural ally for the World’
India in pursuing such a goal, with
both nations having previously India and the UK:
expressed their commitment to Collaborating to Achieve
greater defence cooperation in stra- a Shared Vision
tegic areas. Both India and the UK have pre-
The UK has successfully dem- viously publicly committed to
(Top) Having the right collaboration is key to a successful combat air programme
onstrated its ability to collaborate (Above) Rolls-Royce is committed to supporting the self-reliance vision of India deepen defence cooperation as a
with partner nations for such joint and are keen to enable co-development opportunities in defence key pillar of the India-UK Com-
programmes, and its alliances with prehensive Strategic Partnership,
countries like France, Germany and Italy in Europe and recently with Japan are a and to explore opportunities for defence collaboration for co-development and
testimony to this. co-production of critical military technologies. Within Rolls-Royce we see this as a
A co-development programme that leads to capability creation in India will positive step forward and a platform from which to explore collaboration for com-
enable control of the manufacturing and production stages of the life cycle. This bat engine development, that will not only enable technology creation in-country,
in turn would allow India to look at opportunities to accelerate the development but will also enable India to gain strategic autonomy in defence security. With our
of its defence ecosystem through collaboration with key global players. Such a pro- commitment to supporting India’s defence indigenisation goals, we are looking
gramme, in collaboration with the UK, would also increase India’s competitive- forward to continuing our important partnership with our Government and indus-
ness in the global arena opening the opportunity for exports. When technology is try stakeholders to explore opportunities in this space. 

19 | Day 1 | October 18, 2022

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