Airbus in talks with L&T to set up radar manufacturing facility

Mumbai: The Airbus Group NV is in advanced talks with India’s largest engineering company Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T) for setting up a radar manufacturing facility in India.

In an interview, Christian Scherer, executive vice-president (head of marketing and sales) and member of executive committee at Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, said it has started discussions with its preferred partner L&T for such a facility.

Airbus Group’s plan comes at a time when India’s armed forces is increasingly relying on indigenously developed radars, designed by a unit of Defence Research and Development Organisation and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), to replace old Russian radars.

India is trying to localize radar production through the experience gained by building radars for missile systems such as Akash, ballistic missile defence, the sonars for nuclear submarine, among others.

Also, radars are increasingly software-intensive—a field that India has built capabilities....

Scherer was visiting India for the 10th biennial edition of International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition—Aero India 2015—at Air Force Station Yelahanka near Bengaluru.

“Given the security scenario of our country, it is very important that India becomes self-sufficient in defence and defence production,” defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Wednesday.

Scherer said L&T has the first right of refusal for picking up at least 51% stake in the radar manufacturing project in which Airbus Group will own 49%.

L&T declined to comment.

Asked about the location of radar manufacturing site, Scherer said Airbus Group has received several solicitations from state governments.

“We are yet to finalize the same,” he said.

Airbus Defence and Space manufactures radar and surveillance products ranging from active electronically scanning array radar systems to optronics for the defence, security and space industry.

Detection solutions ensure the identification and tracking of air, land and naval targets.

The security radars family from Airbus is used for security applications such as border security, surveillance of coastlines, critical perimeters and infrastructures.

These radars can also be used in mobile applications, for example, they can be integrated into surveillance vehicles.

Larsen & Toubro Limited