Rafael-L&T Sign MoU to Jointly Offer TROPHY APS for Indian Defence Platforms
Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd (Rafael) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) signed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), during Aero India 2025, aimed at offering of TROPHY Active Protection System (APS) indigenously. TROPHY APS is the only proven and operational APS system in the world.
TROPHY is a critical battlefield technology featuring Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems capabilities and defences that enable protection of an entire platform and soldiers. Through this cooperation TROPHY APS shall be offered as a unique solution that can be integrated on India’s defence platforms.
This collaboration is in line with the government of India’s initiative to forge international collaborations to fast track the indigenisation process for critical and emerging technologies and, aligns with ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision.
CEO of Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, Yoav Tourgeman emphasised the significance of this collaboration: “The partnership between Rafael and L&T for TROPHY APS is a major milestone for both the companies. It will not only enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian armed forces but also our commitment to India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and the nation’s operational readiness. Together, Rafael and L&T, will contribute to the strengthening of India’s defence capabilities through world-class technologies.”
Senior vice president & head of L&T Precision Engineering & Systems, Arun Ramchandani said: “This partnership between two technology-driven companies, Rafael and L&T, brings the newest version of the battle proven TROPHY APS as a bespoke solution customised to Indian combat platforms, and will be manufactured in India with local sustenance capabilities. This APS will enhance the survivability of in-service as well as future combat platforms to be inducted by the Indian armed forces.”
RTX’s Collins Aerospace signs MRO agreement with HAL for LCA Fighter Jet
Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, signed an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at HAL Accessories complex in Lucknow. The licensing and spares agreement will enable the facility to provide repair and overhaul on electrical power generation systems for India’s indigenous war fighter, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
The facility will provide repairs and overhaul services for Collins Aerospace’s Integrated Drive Generators (IDGs) and the Generator Control Units (GCUs) that power some of the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets.
“The new MRO facility expands upon our long-standing partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. We are fully committed to in-country, long-term sustainment of India’s war fighter fleet,” said vice president of Aftermarket, Power & Controls at Collins Aerospace, Ryan Hudson.
Once operational, the MRO will support all LCA Mk 1 aircraft operational within the Indian Air Force. The facility’s capabilities can be scaled in the future to cater to similar Collins Aerospace systems on other military platforms.
“The establishment of MRO facility will enhance self-reliance and result in reduced Turn-around Time (TAT) in repair and will also enable HAL to provide better customer support for the LCA fleet. This MRO facility is also technically capable to meet future requirements for new platforms,” said chairman and managing director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, D.K. Sunil.
Collins Aerospace has supported the IAF for more than 80 years and has products on various platforms like the indigenous LCA Tejas Mk 1, C17, C295, C130J, P-8I, AH-64E, CH-47F and MH-60R. With an Indian workforce of more than 7,000 employees across Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace, RTX has one of the largest presence amongst aerospace and defence firms in India.
HAL and Safran Aircraft Engines Sign Agreement on LEAP Engine Programme
HAL signed a long-term contract with Safran Aircraft Engines (SAE), the world’s leading Aircraft engine maker for supply of turbine forged parts for their LEAP engines during Aero India 2025 here today.
An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed between the two companies in October 2023, to develop industrial cooperation with commercial engine parts manufacturing, as part of the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ policy. This is the first contract as part of this industrial cooperation. Under the terms of this contract, HAL will produce forged parts for LEAP Engine at its state-of-the-art Ring Rolling facility at Foundry & Forge Division in Bengaluru, supporting LEAP programme’s ramp-up for global airline requirements.
The contract was signed by general manager, Foundry & Forge Division of HAL, Anil Kumar in presence of CEO (Bangalore Complex), HAL Jayakrishnan. S and, purchasing VP of Safran Aircraft Engines, Dominique Dupuy.
“Safran and HAL have a long-standing relationship enriched over the past few decades through the joint development of the ‘Shakti’ helicopter engine, which also paved the way for co-design and co-development of the IMRH engine. We are delighted to take this collaboration to the next level and support their LEAP engine production with critical Nickel Ring forgings”, said chairman & managing director, HAL, D.K. Sunil.
“We are very enthusiastic about continuing this partnership with HAL,” said Dominique Dupuy. “We are perfectly in line with the objectives set out in our 2023 agreement for the production of forged parts.”
India is CFM’s third largest market in terms of the number of engines in service, with 75 per cent of the Indian commercial fleet equipped with CFM engines. Today, of the 500 aircraft operated by seven Indian airlines with CFM engines, over 370 are LEAP-powered, and over 2,000 engines on order are for Indian airlines. Safran Aircraft Engines is strengthening its footprint in India with five production units and the sixth unit dedicated to LEAP engine maintenance is planned at Hyderabad.
RTX’s Collins Aerospace launches Powered by Collins Initiative™ 2025 Edition
Collins Aerospace, an RTX announced the launch of its Powered by Collins Initiative™ 2025 edition at Aero India. The initiative invites deep tech small- to medium-sized enterprises to work with a leader in aerospace and defence through targeted collaboration opportunities which represent technologies critical to the industry’s future. This year’s opportunities bring focus to material informatics and quantum-enabled navigation.
Collaboration opportunities represent known needs for active aerospace and defence projects and programmes, where collaboration through funded, rapid development demonstration programmes can accelerate deployment of solutions for customers. Since its launch in 2023, the Powered by Collins Initiative has worked with companies focused on aerospace and defence as well as companies in adjacent industries.
In addition to this year’s collaboration opportunities, Collins has expanded the programme with the launch of the Powered by Collins ecosystem on Switchpitch, an online startup relationship management platform that helps to connect startups with enterprises, investors and technology accelerators.
“Innovation and Collins’ technology development needs are constantly evolving, and the Powered by Collins Ecosystem serves as a complement to our existing collaboration network, enabling Collins business teams to engage potential solution providers throughout the year. We believe this will unlock even more dynamic collaboration and rapidly provide solutions to meet our customers’ needs,” said vice president, Advanced Technology for Collins, Mary Lombardo.
Himalayan Heli Services orders two Airbus H125 helicopters
Himalayan Heli Services Ltd., India’s leading helicopter company in the pilgrimage and aerial work sectors, has ordered two Airbus H125 helicopters to expand its fleet. This latest order will expand Himalayan Heli’s fleet to eight H125 helicopters, making it the largest H125 multi mission operator in the country. The helicopters will be deployed for commercial air transport and aerial work missions in northern India.
“Himalayan Heli Services is proud of using Airbus H125 helicopters for more than 15 years. The H125 has proven to be a safe, very versatile and most suitable helicopter for high altitude passenger flying as well as airborne geophysical survey across varied terrains. Prompt technical support by Airbus gives us much required confidence while serving in remote regions,” said managing director, Himalayan Heli Services Limited, T. Wangchuk Shamshu.
“We are honoured that Himalayan Heli has once again chosen Airbus Helicopters’ H125 for their expanding services. This order underscores the trust that Himalayan Heli places in Airbus and highlights the expansion of our partnership,” said head of Airbus Helicopters in India and South Asia, Sunny Guglani.
“The H125 is known for its versatility and performance in high-altitude terrains. We are certain that these helicopters will be valuable assets that will enable Himalayan Heli to expand their growing network of services in the country,” he added.
The H125 is the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter that outclasses other helicopters in its category. This high-performing versatile helicopter is a member of Airbus’ Ecureuil family, which has accumulated more than 40 million flight hours worldwide. It can operate in high-and-hot and extreme environments and can be easily reconfigured for various missions, including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, passenger transport, and many others. The H125 is the only helicopter to have landed at the top of Mount Everest, demonstrating its agility in operating in high altitude and extreme environments.
Safran and BEL JV for HAMMER, Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defence, France, announced the signing of a partnership to create a joint venture for the manufacturing, customisation, sale and maintenance of HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) Smart Precision Guided Air-to-Ground Weapon in India.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by director (marketing), BEL, KV Suresh Kumar and executive vice president, Safran Electronics & Defence, Alexandre Ziegler, in the presence of chairman and managing director, BEL, Manoj Jain, CEO, Safran Electronics & Defence, Franck Saudo and other senior executives of both companies.
“The proposed joint venture between BEL and Safran Electronics & Defence will be a major step toward strengthening India’s capabilities in defence manufacturing and achieving self-reliance in advanced weapon systems. It will localise HAMMER production, enable development of future variants and support the government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative by reducing import dependence. The collaboration will facilitate technology transfer, create opportunities for Indian industries, especially SMEs and position India as a global hub for smart ammunitions production,” said Manoj Jain.
“This joint venture partnership with BEL marks an important milestone for Safran Electronics & Defence. By creating this centre of excellence combining the best of Safran with the best of BEL in smart precision guided munitions, we are supporting the government’s make in India programme, as well as strengthening both India’s sovereign defence capabilities and Safran’s industrial presence in India,” said Franck Saudo.
As part of this partnership, BEL and Safran Electronics & Defence also plan to establish a centre of excellence aimed at enhancing India’s defence capabilities. This centre will bolster joint industrial activities in areas such as manufacturing, engineering, and associated services such as operational maintenance, repairs, and overhauls of optronics and navigation equipment for the Indian armed forces. Safran Electronics & Defence will bring its expertise by implementing a knowledge transfer programme. The transfer of production will happen in a phased manner with BEL leading final assembly, testing and quality assurance. This strategic collaboration, which is in sync with the government of India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, will facilitate the creation of a state-of-the-art production facility in India, making the country a key hub for advanced smart munitions. It will reduce dependency on imports and strengthen India’s self-reliance and operational readiness in defence.
HAMMER is a combat-proven, precision-guided weapon system known for its high accuracy and modular design, making it adaptable for multiple platforms, including the Rafale and LCA Tejas.
KSSL and L3Harris Sign MoU to Collaborate on Advanced Technology in India
Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharat Forge Limited and L3Harris Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for wider collaboration in supporting advanced defence and security equipment in India.
Under the two-year agreement, both companies will work in close collaboration to provide solutions for mutually agreed opportunities in command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) technologies. The MoU provides L3Harris with a strong, local partner to support tactical communications network development in India, extending an existing global install footprint of more than 1 million fielded radios across the US department of defence and allied inventories.
“This MoU sets the stage for future partnerships and opportunities in India, where the combined strengths of L3Harris and KSSL can contribute to bolster national security for the country,” said vice president, international, L3Harris, Dave Johnson. “We are excited to move forward and increase our delivery speed in advanced tactical radios and equipment to the Indian armed forces.”
The US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation encourages both parties’ support of advanced defence technologies, capabilities and equipment. The MoU is designed to foster collaboration in defence technologies, with a framework for innovation that benefits both L3Harris and KSSL.
“This collaboration unlocks new strategic capabilities and will lead to harnessing new opportunities for quick delivery of sophisticated defence products to the Indian armed forces,” said president & CEO, KSSL, Neelesh Tungar. “Aligned with the evolving doctrines and emerging warfare paradigms, this collaboration between KSSL and L3Harris is aimed at serving future strategic requirements, including joint and integrated ISR capabilities.”
While focusing on the Indian market, the collaboration also seeks to establish robust and resilient supply chains outside India for global obligations. L3Harris has operated in India for more than 21 years, with facilities in New Delhi and Bengaluru. In addition to providing the Indian armed forces with sophisticated tactical radios and manned airborne electro-optic/infrared systems, the company provides Futuristic Telecommunications Infrastructure for all Indian airports in partnership with the Airport Authority of India (AAI).
Defence Minister Lauds Aero A2Z for Introducing ‘Make in India’ Radar Systems
Aero A2Z Services Private Limited, an Indian aerospace and defence company, introduced a range of tactical and medium range innovative and battle proven radar systems at Aero India 2025. These software-based radars are battle proven. They are developed in collaboration with DRS Rada Technologies, a world leader in radar technologies.
Amidst the fast changing landscape of modern warfare and advanced security threats, Aero A2Z’s offerings aim to elevate the level of the Indian defence industry by aligning to the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Furthermore, these have a special focus on identifying two key differentiators—technological leadership and combat proven prowess. The new age products by Aero A2Z are tested in real world scenarios and equipped with software defined architecture with AI–driven solutions which are ready to be adapted to meet all the requirements of the Indian armed forces.
The defence minister Rajnath Singh complimented the Aero A2Z team led by Vikas Batra, director, Aero A2Z and Alon Amitay, VP, business development, DRS Rada technologies for upholding the ‘Make in India’ vision through the strategic business collaboration.
The radar applications introduced include very short to medium range detect and track systems, counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), fire control (FC) systems, counter rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM), including automatic sense and warn (AS&W), active protection systems (APS) and force protection.
Batra, while sharing his vision, said, “Bringing in the best of global expertise from giants like DRS Rada who have established their efficacy in Israel and US markets, Aero A2Z is committed to local manufacturing of advanced solution that address modern warfare and new age security threats. Over the past four years, we have a robust supply chain and are now setting up a state-of-the-art facility near Gurugram that will be operational within the next few months and will cater to the burgeoning demand for our services.”
Rolls-Royce to Double Its Sourcing in India by 2030
Reinforcing its commitment to India, Rolls-Royce signalled its intent to double its supply chain sourcing from the country over the next five years. As a strong proponent of the ‘Make in India’ programme, Rolls-Royce sources a wide range of high-precision parts and engine components for its civil aerospace, defence and power systems businesses from numerous Indian partners, and has long-term plans to grow India’s participation in its global supply chain.
With plans to grow its presence and participation in India’s defence sector, Rolls-Royce will now increase its sourcing of complex parts for advanced aerospace engines, naval propulsion systems, diesel engines and gas turbine engines. This strategic move also aligns with Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh’s call for greater integration of Indian companies into global supply chains.
Speaking about the company’s plans, chief transformation officer, Rolls-Royce Nicola Grady-Smith said, “India is fast emerging as a preferred hub for global sourcing, and we are looking to broaden our partnerships here to support both our business growth and the government of India’s vision to ‘Make in India for the world’. Over the years, Rolls-Royce has helped bolster in-country manufacturing capabilities to meet the highest global quality standards. The focus is now on strengthening relationships with both existing and potential future Indian suppliers, to help develop capabilities to manufacture complex engine components locally for global markets.”
At Aero India 2025, executive VP for business development and future programmes for Rolls-Royce (Defence) Alex Zino spoke about the announcement. He said, “India plays a significant role in our long-term strategy, both as a sourcing hub and a strategic partner in advancing defence technologies. We are committed to serving the needs of India’s armed forces and remain focused on participating in co-development opportunities for critical combat engine technologies.”
Following a legacy of successful technology transfer for licensed production of various engines in the defence domain, Rolls-Royce has established an ecosystem of strategic partnerships, skilled talent, engineering and digital capabilities, service delivery, supply chain and manufacturing in India.
The company has strong joint ventures with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Force Motors, as well as long-standing relationships with Tata, Bharat Forge, Godrej & Boyce and others, for manufacturing and sourcing complex parts for its businesses.