(TH NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM)
At Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a prominent Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), has announced several strategic partnerships aimed at bolstering India’s defense manufacturing capabilities. These agreements, signed with international and domestic defense leaders, underline BEL’s role in driving India towards greater self-reliance in defense technology and production.

One of the most significant collaborations was with Safran Electronics & Defense of France. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a joint venture focused on the manufacturing, customization, sale, and maintenance of HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapons in India. The MoU was signed by K.V. Suresh Kumar, Director (Marketing) of BEL, and Alexandre Ziegler, Executive Vice President of Safran Electronics & Defense, in the presence of top executives from both companies.

This collaboration is expected to be a major step in enhancing India’s defense manufacturing capabilities, with a focus on reducing dependence on imports. According to Manoj Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of BEL, the joint venture will localize the production of HAMMER weapons, develop future variants, and align with the Indian government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. By facilitating technology transfer, the joint venture will also open up opportunities for Indian industries, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and position India as a hub for smart ammunition production.

“This partnership marks a milestone for Safran Electronics & Defense,” said Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran Electronics & Defense. “By combining Safran’s global expertise with BEL’s extensive capabilities in smart munitions, we are contributing to the government’s Make in India initiative and strengthening India’s sovereign defense capabilities.”

Additionally, BEL has continued to build on its commitment to the ‘Make in India’ initiative by delivering the 7,000th Transmit/Receive (T/R) module for the RBE2 radar on the Dassault Aviation Rafale aircraft. This achievement is a result of an ongoing collaboration with Thales, which began in 2017. The transfer of technology and the manufacturing of critical radar components for the Rafale program in India underscore BEL’s growing role in the global defense supply chain. This milestone also reflects the long-term commitment to local manufacturing, with the first RBE2 radar component produced in India delivered to Dassault Aviation in 2020.

The partnership between BEL and Thales extends beyond the Rafale program to include the production of advanced microwave modules for the Rafale’s SPECTRA Electronic Warfare (EW) suite. This expanding collaboration highlights BEL’s expertise in the electronic warfare domain, further contributing to India’s defense modernization.

As part of its broader strategy to boost indigenous defense production, BEL has also signed MoUs with various industry players to enhance technological capabilities in multiple sectors. One such agreement is with CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) to collaborate on Unified Air Space Management, Loitering Munition (LM), and High-Altitude Platform Stations. Another MoU, with CoreEL Technologies Pvt Ltd, focuses on the joint development of subsystems for Electronic Warfare, Sonars, Radars, and Missile Electronics.

Furthermore, BEL has joined forces with Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd to leverage each other’s strengths in mechanical, electronics, and software engineering. This collaboration will focus on the development of weapon systems, missile systems, UAVs, decoy launchers, and other defense-related platforms. The strategic alliance aims to bring together Godrej’s expertise in critical assemblies with BEL’s advanced capabilities in defense technologies, creating a robust manufacturing ecosystem.

Another noteworthy MoU was signed between BEL and EndureAir Systems Pvt Ltd for the joint development and production of Vertical Take-off and Landing Unmanned Aerial Systems (VTOL UAS). This collaboration aims to advance the development of drones for surveillance, logistics, and military applications, with a focus on medium and high-altitude cargo drones, as well as micro and nano drones.

These MoUs and joint ventures represent a concerted effort by BEL to accelerate the indigenization of defense technologies and products in India. As a key player in the Indian defense sector, BEL is making significant strides toward realizing the vision of a self-reliant defense industry, aligning with India’s strategic goals of reducing import dependence and enhancing national security.

As the defense manufacturing landscape continues to evolve, BEL’s partnerships with global and domestic leaders are expected to play a pivotal role in transforming India into a global hub for advanced defense technology and innovation. These collaborations not only underscore India’s growing defense capabilities but also contribute to the nation’s broader geopolitical and strategic objectives.