India’s outstanding performance at #DefExpo2018 welcomed by global defense giants: Russia, Israel, Ukraine keen to boost defense ties

Chennai, April 14: Catalyzing India’s defence sector, DefExpo 2018 has been the strongest variable as India has been invited by Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Boeing; all vowed to boost defence ties. DefExpo18 focuses on export as opposed to importing military hardware marks a conceptual shift in Indian defence policy. 

In a significant milestone, 7 MoUs were signed between Indian and Russian companies during DefExpo 2018 for indigenous manufacturing of spare parts, wrapping up the deliberations on the aftersales services and spare parts availability for defence equipment that India bought from Russia.

The MoUs include Larsen & Toubro and Joint Stock Company, for various programmes for the Indian Navy and for future-ready combat vehicles and rockets, co-production on the territory of India, Ananth Technologies and JSC Concern radio-electronic technologies agreement for optoelectric sighting and navigation complex for Su-30MKI aircraft, Space Era and KRET (to set up technical and logistics support in India). Ananth Technologies also signed a MoU with Research and Production Corporation to set up technical and logistic support in India for tanks in service with the Indian Army.

Russian company JSC AGAT signed agreements with OSKROSOMARINE and Kransey Defence for post-sale support of the Fregat radar and modernization of the Fregat radar after sales service agreement with Aviatech Enterprise manufactured by JSC AGAT and installed onboard Indian naval ships.

In an attempt to carve a bigger space for its defence industry, Ukraine has offered maintenance to the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier Vikramaditya and will jointly produce gas turbine engines with the world's largest importer of defence equipment. The Ukrainian defence industry enterprise has also signed new contracts worth over $20 million with India's state-owned Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) for the modernization and localization of the production of components for armoured vehicles of the Indian Army.

India's Mahindra Defense and Israeli drone developer Aeronautics Ltd. (TASE: ARCS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to partner for naval shipborne unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Aeronautics and Mahindra announced that they will offer a UAV system that can be launched and recovered from Indian warships.

Following are some of the pictures from DefExpo2018:

Also Prime Minister on Thursday inaugurated the DefExpo 2018. Expressing his delight over DefExpo, he said enthusing about the participation of more than 500 Indian firms along with over 150 foreign companies and delegates from about 40 countries. PM Modi said that the Centre's commitment towards peace is as strong as the one towards protecting its people and the nation.

DefExpo2018 looks forward to positioning the country as a credible manufacturer and exporter of certain military inventory items. DefExpo18 focuses on export as opposed to importing military hardware marks a conceptual shift in Indian defence policy.

DefExpo will play a perfect stage to unfold the might of India’s shipbuilding capabilities. DefExpo hopes to position the country as a credible manufacturer and exporter of certain military inventory items. India will unveil its 155mm Advanced Towed Artillery Gun (ATAG) in DefExpo. This is the first time that India has its own ATAG which has been designed and developed by DRDO in partnership with Kalyani Group, Tata Power and OFBs. DefExpo 2018 will also uncover India’s growing private industry and spreading MSME base for components and sub-systems.