Defence 'Make in India' on a roll: Boeing & Tata announce manufacturing partnership including drones

[anant_s]

NEW DELHI: In yet another boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' drive, Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) on Wednesday signed a framework agreement to collaborate in aerospace and defence manufacturing and potential integrated systems development opportunities, including unmanned aerial vehicles.

The companies intend to access markets jointly for products and platforms developed together by Boeing and TASL, a company press release said.
The agreement was signed by Shelley Lavender, president of Boeing Military Aircraft and Sukaran Singh, managing director and chief executive officer of TASL. TASL already has a contract to manufacture aerostructures for Boeing's CH-47 Chinook and AH-6i helicopters.
"This agreement with TASL is significant because it demonstrates Boeing's commitment to expanding its aerospace manufacturing footprint in India," Lavender said.
"As we step into our 100th year in business, a new aerospace partnership with India is the perfect milestone to accelerate the momentum we have generated for making in India," said Pratyush Kumar, president for Boeing India. "It is noteworthy that TASL will produce Chinook helicopter parts in India even before the procurement contract is signed with the Indian government."

"This framework agreement is the result of the world-class competencies of TASL as well as the vendor eco-system it has helped establish in India. It gives us an opportunity to explore the massive potential in India for aerospace manufacturing and make the investments required to grow the industry," said S. Ramadorai, Chairman of TASL. "Boeing's platforms require complex manufacturing processes within a competitive cost structure and we are confident that the partnership will be able to deliver high quality aerostructures out of India."

Other Tata group companies - Tata Advanced Materials Limited (TAML) and TAL Manufacturing Solutions (TAL) - are also supplying important components to Boeing. TAML has delivered power and mission equipment cabinets and auxiliary power unit door fairings for the P-8I long range maritime surveillance and anti submarine warfare aircraft.
Defence 'Make in India' on a roll: Boeing & Tata announce manufacturing partnership including drones - The Economic Times

 

[anant_s]

UAV manufactured by TASL

Unmanned Aerial Systems are deployed to enhance the capabilities of the military and security forces in the field of real time intelligence , surveillance and reconnaissance . TASL through Aurora Integrated Systems is focusing on in-house design and development of mini and micro UAV systems, complemented by indigenous design of major subsystems like Autopilot , Ground Control Station , Gimbal based payloads. This has enabled TASL to offer cutting edge solutions for currnet and future UAV requirements of Indian Security Forces.

Key Features :

• All terrain 24 x 7 mission capability
• Autonomous flight and landing
• Autonomous mission control and target tracking
• Retractable Gyro Stabilized gimbals for day and night payloads

The systems have been extensively field tested and one of the system , Aquilon has been selected by the Indian Army.

Aquilon Mini UAV

Aquilon is a hand launched , man packed Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) that is ideal for providing frontline troops with increased situational awareness . This easy to deploy ,easy to use system is designed for fully autonomous operations from launch through mission execution and recovery.

Main features :

• Integrated autonomous launch and autonomous landing
• Full mission and payload planning with pre-set search patterns
• Hand-launched and belly landing operation by 1-2 man team
• Automatic target acquisition and tracking feature
• Electric propulsion – covert operations
• Low-noise, low visibility, low operational footprint
• Zero tool assembly of airframe
• Ruggedised Ground Control Station for harsh environments
• Full duplex jam resistant datalink communication

Technical Specifications

Maximum Take off Weight 4 kgs
Time to Launch < 15 minutes
Endurance > 60 minutes
Range > 5 kms, extendable up to 10 kms
Propulsion Electric motor with folding propellers
Power source Non-spillable Rechargeable batteries
Minimum speed 40 kmph
Cruise speed 54 kmph
Maximum continuous winds > 20 knots
Operational altitude 100m to 1000m
Service Ceiling 3000m
Wing span 1.9 m
Total length 1.2 m
EO Field of View 46deg to 4.5deg
IR Field of View 10deg to 25deg

TATA ADVANCED SYSTEMS