One of them is the Bengaluru-based Alpha-Elsec Aerospace Systems, an Indo-Israeli joint venture between Alpha Design Technologies (ADTL) and Elbit of Israel that plans to produce state-of-the-art opto-electronic defence systems and small UAVs. With ADTL holding 51 per cent of the stock and with a majority of Indian directors on the board, Alpha-Elsec is considered an Indian company.

The JV is to be a major platform for manufacturing and supplying state-of-the-art opto-electronics and UAVs to the Indian and international markets. The JV has also set up factories and R&D centres at Indiranagar and Peenya in Bengaluru, as also at Hyderabad. It has also set up Repair, Maintenance and Installation centres in Delhi, Dehradun, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

ADTL has already supplied more than 2000 Thermal Imager-based Fire Control Systems for T-72 tanks and BMPs, Laser Target Designators, Night Vision Devices, Tactical Communication systems, EW, simulators and airframes for SU-30s and LCAs.

Elbit of Israel is a USD2.5 billion company, which recently acquired the USD2.1bn IMI. As a group, it is considered the biggest in Israel and is ranked among the top 20 defence firms globally. Its UAVs are considered as top-of-the-line internationally, with its next-generation Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Hermes 900 making waves in the international market.




Originally established in 2004, as a partnership with International Technologies Lasers (ITL), an Israeli company, it was eventually bought over by Elbit Systems, which governed ITL under one of its major subsidiaries namely Elbit Security Systems. As a result of the takeover by Elbit, the JV became Alpha Elbit Security Systems with 74 per cent equity in the hands of ADTL and the remaining 26 per cent under Elbit.