KRAS Rolls Out 1000 MRSAM Missile Kits for the Army, IAF
Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems Pvt Ltd. (KRAS), a joint venture between India’s Kalyani Group and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems rolled out the first batch of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
A press statement from Kalyani Group stated, “The roll-out event marked KRAS’ commitment to deliver more than 1000 MRSAM ‘missile kits’ for the Indian Army and Air Force over the coming years. These missile sections will then be ‘forwarded’ to India’s state-run defence miniratna Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for further and future integration.”
It added that the event designated the beginning of the journey of a MSME Indian company which is committed not only to the ‘Make-in-India’ concept, but to, as well, taking its own stride towards the larger ‘Atmanirbharta’ idea. In this effort the company has fused Rafael’s state-of the-art technology with the engineering excellence of the Kalyani Group.
The event was attended by officials from the Ministry of Defence, (MOD), Indian Army, Indian Air Force, DRDO, the BDL, and the Israeli delegation including EVP, Head of Air and Missile Defense Systems division of Rafael Brig. Gen. (Res.) Pinhas (Pini) Yungman. The Kalyani delegation was being led by President and CEO of BFL Defence Rajinder Bhatia and also by representatives from the IAI, Israel.
Chairman/ Managing Director, Kalyani Group, Baba Kalyani, said, “This is beginning of a new era, filled with self-confidence, a marked step-change in technological expertise and a collective demonstration of capability to be the global manufacturing hub for defence products. We are confident to complete the order far ahead of the stipulated time, and support the armed forces with the best in class missile kits. Apart from the missile kits, we will extend our support in Maintenance and Repair Operations (MRO) as in-service Air Defence Missile System for the armed forces.”
Speaking on the occasion, Head of Air and Missile Defense Systems division of Rafael Advanced Defense System, Brig. Gen. Pinhas Yungman, said, “We have been a reliable partner to the Indian armed forces for almost three decades, and these missile kits are a testimony of our commitment to ‘Make in India’ cause. We are confident KRAS will not only build products for the Indian armed forces but will, at the same time, trigger and help achieve Indian government’s vision of exports from India.”