Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems Ltd has secured a $100-million order from Rafeal of Israel to supply 1,000 Barak-8 MRSAM missile kits for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
KRAS, a 49:51 venture between Rafael Advanced Systems and Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd, plans to develop these systems at the facility located near the international airport here. These systems would be supplied to Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) for further integration.
Over the years, Rafael’s collaboration with the Indian defence industry has led to investment of over $250 million as a part of the Make-in-India initiative.
Pini Yungman, Rafael Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the Air & Missile Defense Systems Division, said: “KRAS is the first private missile production facility in India to produce interceptors, missiles, besides deployment of defence systems and providing long-term maintenance of missiles and equipment.”
He said KRAS was committed to the operational readiness of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
Baba Kalyani, Chairman of the Kalyani Group said, “This order is a testimony to the capabilities that exists in the country and how they can be utilised to truly achieve the aim of ‘Make in India’. We are confident of executing many more such orders.”
Second manufacturing facility
Baba Kalyani said the company plans to set up a second manufacturing facility to enhance its production capability, primarily to serve India and also to operate as an export facility for friendly neighbouring countries.
These countries were assured support during Nirmala Sitharaman’s tenure as Defence Minister. They also get EXIM and finance support.
“We are seeking to set up the new facility on an 100-acre site in Telangana,” he said, to highlight the growing engagement of the company with the defence sector.
The Kalyani Group company, KSSL, has grown from being a traditional supplier of components and sub-systems to the Indian defence forces, to becoming a complete systems solutions provider, thus, enabling a dedicated and focussed approach in realising the aim of becoming a leading defence player in the world. During the Balakot air attack, some of these systems were deployed.
The KRAS unit is an advanced production facility offering engineering services and extended life-cycle support for systems supplied to the Indian defence forces. KRAS is expected to ramp up its employee strength to 300 technical experts by the year 2023.
During the interaction, Baba Kalyani said: “The facility near Hyderabad was set up in August 2017 and has now bagged a $100-million order. We plan to expand our facilities and capabilities as a systems integrator, while broadening the product range.”
The KRAS facility has been exporting defence systems and achieved business of $15 million last year. It expects to clock about $30 million by next year.
Source: THBL
Image Courtesy: India Today
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