Through a Licensing and Manufacturing Agreement, We Will Be Offering The BVS10 As The Articulated All-Terrain Vehicle For The Indian Armed Forces
As the new India Managing Director of BAE Systems, how do you view Indian government’s Self-Reliance India (Aatmanirbhar Bharat) initiative. How is the company planning to support this initiative?
India holds an important position as a strategic market for BAE Systems, and we place immense importance on our enduring association with the country, spanning over seven decades.
As a founding partner of defence manufacturing in India, BAE Systems has always supported the progress of India’s indigenous defence ecosystem. We are fully in support of the government’s vision for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and ‘Make in India’. This is why, our partnership with India has evolved significantly during the past 10 years and it’s well reflected in our mission of ‘Co-Creating for a Self-Reliant India’.
Moreover, in Aero India this year, we also signed a MoU with Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies where we will work together to explore opportunities to collaborate in next generation uncrewed systems and associated technologies.
Over the past few years, India has made significant strides towards achieving self-reliance and we acknowledge and support the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar’s statement that the Indian Navy will become ‘aatmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) by 2047. We stand ready to support the Navy as they continue to develop their self-reliance.
How has BAE Systems contributed to the modernization of Indian Navy?
BAE Systems has played a pivotal role in elevating India’s maritime capabilities. Whether contributing to the development of the Indian Navy Ship (INS) Nilgiri, a Leander-class frigate, or bolstering naval strength through our iconic Sea Harriers, BAE Systems remains steadfast in its commitment to furnish India’s forces with cutting-edge defence capabilities.
In recent years, we have further strengthened our association by supporting Indian Navy on INS Virat and look forward to soon providing the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) on the MH-60R Seahawks.
I recently had the honour of hosting VAdm. MA Hampiholi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, the Flag Officer Commander in Chief, Southern Naval Command, on the BAE Systems pavilion at the IndoPac in exhibition in Sydney recently. We showed him our advanced technologies and the capabilities of the Hunter Class Frigate. He shared his insights into the capabilities on offer.
BAE Systems has an extensive expertise in maritime domain. How can it further support the Indian Navy in its modernisation? What new naval technology is the company offering to India?
We are pleased to always be globally working towards the latest technologies to enhance the capabilities of navies worldwide. BAE Systems is at the leading edge of innovation from autonomous systems to digital shipyards and we look forward to working with the Indian Navy to support their vision of combat ready, credible, cohesive, and future proof readiness through technologies like electric propulsion for maritime applications and by upgrading firepower of capital ships.
In our long association with India, we have always shown our commitment to support the Indian Navy either with the development of Indian Navy Ship (INS) Nilgiri, a Leander-class frigate, or through our Sea Harriers and Hawk Mk132 Trainer Aircraft. Therefore, with such wealth of expertise, BAE Systems is fully prepared to assist India in its pursuit of modernizing naval capabilities and stands poised to be a collaborative partner in the nation’s warship building programs.
Could you provide details and the latest updates on the partnerships that BAE Systems has established with Indian industries?
In Aero India 2023, we announced an MoU with India’s FSTC to develop a Twin Dome Full Mission Simulator for Hawk Mk132 and signed a MoU with Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies to explore opportunities to collaborate in next generation uncrewed systems and associated technologies.
Additionally, we have also recently collaborated with Larsen and Toubro (L&T), which is one of India’s leading constructions and defence companies, and to bring the world-leading all-terrain vehicle, the BvS10, to the Indian market. Through a licensing and manufacturing agreement, we will be offering the BvS10 as the Articulated All-Terrain Vehicle (AATV) for the Indian Armed Forces. BAE Systems and L&T have collaboratively developed the BvS10 to specifically meet the unique requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. This new variant will be officially recognized as the BvS10-Sindhu.