Navratna
Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is setting up a Defence Systems
Integration Complex at Palasamudram, Gorantala Mandal, in Anantapuramu district
of Andhra Pradesh. It will be the largest such facility in the country once it
is commissioned, covering an area of over 900 acres. Raksha Mantri, Manohar
Parrikar, will lay the foundation stone for this facility on Wednesday,
September 30, 2015, in the august presence of N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief
Minister of Andhra Pradesh, M Venkaiah
Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development & Parliamentary Affairs, P Ashok
Gajapathi Raju, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister
of State for Commerce & Industry and Y S Chowdary, Minister of State for
Science & Technology.
S
K Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director, BEL, says: “We at BEL have been
continuously investing in modernization and creation of special infrastructure
to cater for emerging defence business opportunities. The upcoming facility at
Palasamudram is one such initiative. We are also strengthening our
infrastructure in areas like Night Vision technologies and elements of
Multifunction Radars. Various new Surface to Air Missile (SAM) programmes are
proposed to be taken up by BEL, viz, Quick Reaction SAM , Long Range SAM,
Medium Range SAM, etc, in addition to Network Centric Communication and
Electronic Warfare systems.’’
BEL
CMD adds, “To achieve self-reliance in defence, there is need for a very strong
indigenous R&D. In this direction, BEL has not only maintained a consistent
policy of R&D investments but also has launched collaborative R&D with
private SME firms in the country. On an average, 80% of BEL’s Sales turnover is
from indigenous R&D every year. BEL has now launched a Product Development
& Innovation Centre at Bangalore to give further thrust towards indigenous
R&D.”
As part of diversification and business
growth, BEL is looking towards major expansion into New Generation SAM systems,
High end Image Intensifier Tubes and Thermal Imaging detectors for Night Vision
Devices, Inertial Navigation Systems, Electronic Ammunition Fuses, Air Traffic
Management Radars, Intelligent Traffic Management Systems and Solar Power
Plants.
The
Palasamudram facility will enable BEL to expand its Missile systems business
and will carry out manufacturing & integration for the ongoing and upcoming
projects. It will have state-of-the-art infrastructure such as Assembly Hangars
and Hard Stands for Radars and Weapon integration, RF radiation sources for
target simulation, Automatic Test Equipment, Clean Rooms for electronic
assembly, Non-Explosive & Explosive Integration Buildings, Missile Storage
buildings, Environmental Test Chambers, Fire Stations, Solar Power Plant,
Estate and Admin buildings.
BEL
is currently manufacturing the Akash Missile Systems (AMS) for the Indian Air
Force and the Indian Army. The Akash Missile System is a supersonic,
short-range surface-to-air missile system designed and developed by DRDO, with
the capability to engage a wide variety of aerial threats like aircraft,
helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. BEL is the lead integrator of the
Akash Missile System for the Indian Air Force and supplies the Radars, Control Centres,
Simulators, associated maintenance vehicles and the integrated software.
Testing
and integration of missile systems involves actual deployment of Air
Surveillance Radars, Fire Control Radars, Control Centers, Missile Launchers
and other support systems to validate the detection, tracking, command and communication
link parameters. Multiple groups of the equipment have to be positioned at
suitable spacing over a large area to simulate field conditions. The upcoming
facility will cater to these requirements. At present, BEL carries out its missile
manufacturing and integration activities and system level checks at its
Bangalore Unit. In order to cater to the large requirements of futuristic Surface
to Air Missile systems, missiles and associated electronic sub-systems &
components, BEL is setting up this facility in Andhra Pradesh.
The
facility is about 80 Km from the Bengaluru International Airport on NH 7. The
proposed Complex will be a world-class facility with Automated Guided Vehicles
and Industrial Robots for material movement and handling. The facility will be
built in stages as the various projects mature and the estimated investment
will be about Rs.500 Crores over 3 to 4 years.
BEL
also plans to expand this facility for the creation of a Military Industrial
Complex to set up the necessary ecosystem for manufacture of electronic
components and equipment for various upcoming Defence projects in collaboration
with SMEs as part of the Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
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