In alignment with the Indian government’s Make-in-India initiative, Israel Aerospace Industries has inaugurated its Indian subsidiary, Aerospace Services India, with plans to establish a significant hub for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of defence equipment in Gurugram, as stated by the top official of the Indian subsidiary in an interview.
Danny Lauber, CEO of Aerospace Services India, disclosed, “We are in the process of constructing a large MRO facility in the Gurgaon area. We are awaiting final approvals from various government bodies to authorize us to establish this as an MRO location, which will generate numerous job opportunities and foster talent. This marks just the initial phase of capacity building.”
Initially, the MRO hub will focus on the maintenance and repair of the entire medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) system, Lauber revealed.
MRSAM, also known as ‘Abhra,’ represents a cutting-edge medium-range air defence weapon system developed through a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israeli Aerospace Industries. The missile system is manufactured at Bharat Dynamics Ltd in Hyderabad, with active involvement from Indian public and private defence industry stakeholders, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
According to Bharat Dynamics, MRSAM is a supersonic missile capable of rapid vertical launch with swift response times, designed to intercept various airborne threats like guided bombs, aircraft, missiles, and helicopters. It encompasses different variants tailored for use by the army, navy, and air force.
Lauber emphasized, “We are already exploring opportunities to extend our services beyond the MRSAM program to encompass other defence projects and meet the requirements of our customers.”
Established in 1953, Israel Aerospace Industries serves as Israel’s primary aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial and astronautic systems for both military and civilian applications. The company has maintained a presence in India for several years and has engaged in numerous collaborations with Indian agencies and public-sector entities for the development of defence equipment.
In 2022, Israel Aerospace Industries inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for the conversion of civil (passenger) aircraft into multi-mission tanker transport (MMTT) aircraft in India. Subsequently, in 2023, it signed another MoU with Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) to explore opportunities in short-range air defence systems.
Earlier this month, Israel Aerospace Industries finalized its first corporate social responsibility (CSR) agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi to collaborate on applied research. Lauber highlighted, “Aerospace Services India operates as an Indian entity dealing in rupees. We are transferring technologies, capabilities, and resources, heavily investing in the Indian market for the next generation of products and deliveries. Some technologies will be acquired, while others will be jointly developed in India.”
In recent months, ASI has established offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Hyderabad, serving as operational hubs to ensure continuous communication with customers and swift resolution of issues.
Lauber concluded, “We are also exploring manufacturing capabilities, which is on the horizon. Presently, our primary focus is on reducing delivery response times because time in the defence industry translates to operational readiness, improved efficiency, and reduced total cost of ownership.”
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