Aero India 2023: IAI, Israel, & BEL to form JV to provide Product Support for India’s Defence Forces

Bengaluru: Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), India’s leading manufacturer of defence electronic products and systems, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel’s leading aerospace and defence company, have concluded the MoA to form a joint venture that aims at a single point of contact for extending long-term product support services for India’s Defence Forces.
The announcement was made by the Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri Ajay Bhat, at Aero India 2023, the biennial air show and aviation exhibition being held at Yelahanka Air Force Station, Bengaluru.

The partnership is another significant step in cementing the relationship between the two companies that have a long history of association. BEL and IAI are engaged in several joint programmes for the Indian Defence Forces. The new joint venture is being established for providing life cycle support for MRSAM air-defence systems in the country. The new venture will have its headquarters in New Delhi and provide the required technical and maintenance support to the Armed Forces.

MRSAM is an advanced path-breaking air and missile defence system that provides protection against a variety of aerial platforms. It is used by the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy and Israeli Defence Forces. The 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.

Through this Joint Venture, IAI reiterates its support to the Indian Government’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). It also goes a long way in demonstrating the company’s commitment to the strong partnership with DRDO in developing and supporting advanced systems for the Indian Armed Forces. This co-operation will leverage the synergetic capabilities of both IAI and BEL.

Sri Ajay Bhat, Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri, said:  “Israel is a very important strategic partner of India and the successful development and deployment of MRSAM System for the Indian Defence Forces is a shining example of the successful joint colaboration between the two countries. This Joint Venture between two prestigeous companies of India and Israel will certainly play a very important role as a single point of contact in delivering product support services for MRSAM Systems. It will be a driving force for the Make in India policy.”

Mr Bhanu Prakash Srivastava, CMD, BEL, said: “BEL considers IAI, Israel, as a very important strategic partner. This Joint Venture between the two companies is expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring timely Product Support services for MRSAM Systems and enable substantial indigenous workshare with active participation of the Indian supply chain.”

Mr Boaz Levy, IAI's President and CEO, had said earlier: "Our joint venture with BEL will leverage the best technology, innovation and talent to provide services matching the needs of our customers in India. It follows our announcement in 2022 about the opening of Aerospace Services India (ASI), an IAI subsidiary in New Delhi, both of which illustrate our support of the Government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative and investment in India.”

About Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is a world-leading aerospace and defence company innovating and delivering state-of-the-art technologies in space, air, land, naval, cyber & homeland security for defense and commercial markets. Combining the “Start-up Nation” spirit of innovation with decades of combat-proven experience, IAI provides 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.

 About BEL
Navratna PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) was established in 1954 under the Ministry of Defence, GoI, with a farsighted vision to make the country self-reliant in Defence electronics. Today, BEL is a multi-product, multi-technology, multi-Unit conglomerate which designs, manufactures and supplies state-of-the-art products and systems in a wide variety of fields including Radars, Missile Systems, Military Communications, Naval Systems, Electronic Warfare & Avionics, C4I Systems, Electro Optics, Tank Electronics & Gun/Weapon System Upgrades, and Electronic Fuzes in the Defence segment.

BEL’s non-Defence business segment includes areas such as Electronic Voting Machines, Homeland Security & Smart Cities, Satellite Integration & Space Electronics, Railways, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Software as a Service, Energy Storage Products, besides Composite Shelters & Masts. BEL is fast expanding its global presence, putting its best foot forward to give a thrust to exports worldwide. All-out efforts are being made to tap new markets across the globe, including the Indian Ocean Region and friendly foreign countries.

Be it the efforts that the Company has been putting in to engage in collaborative R&D in addition to augmenting its own R&D set up, its recent attempts to outsource work to Indian private industries and MSMEs, or the path breaking decision to go in for Public-Private partnerships to execute turnkey projects, BEL is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that it is in sync with the Government’s larger goal of indigenisation and self-reliance.