India tops ‘key focus country’ list for French aerospace major Thales

[Stephen Cohen]

India tops ‘key focus country’ list for French aerospace major Thales | idrw.org

India is at the top of 10 key focus nations for the €13-billion French major Thales, which has a presence in diverse fields such as defence, civil aviation and ground transportation in India, including upgrading of Mirage 2000 for the Indian Air Force.

“We devised a list of 10 key strategic countries in which we decided to grow our business and develop for the next 10 years. India is on the top of the list,” Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO, Thales, toldBusinessLine.

Caine is in India and is slated to meet top Defence Ministry officials this week. Caine said Thales is looking to double its turnover to €700 million by 2019 from €300 million now. The workforce in India, which is at 300 now, should also double by then, he said.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the workforce (here) is Indian. So it is a genuine Indian capability,” Caine said. The company looks to double or (make) even bigger than that the size of business in India. Thales is also looking to spend 20 per cent of its India turnover in R&D. “The R&D will be in both defence and civil,” Caine said.

Rafale deal

Asked when Thales expects the 36-aircraft Rafale deal to close, Caine said, “First, let’s close the government-to-government discussion. Then we will discuss contract closing.” Thales is a component supplier in the deal.

The French major also sees opportunities to co-develop products with BEL in the radar field. Using its joint venture with Samtel, it also plans to start production of displays and avionics of Mirage 2000 for its upgrade programme soon, in line with the ‘Make in India’ mission. While Thales said it would like more clarity on India’s defence offset policy wherein it is supposed to source 30 per cent locally, the company has taken its offset commitments very seriously, according to Caine. Additionally, Thales also has a corporate-level initiative ‘Go to India’ to promote India as a sourcing destination for not just its own units but for other foreign companies as well. The company shares its vendor details with other foreign groups and those of suppliers that it has qualified for its industry in India, without any fee. Thales, which sources from both large and smaller companies in India, said this is a sales-driven effort to build supply chain and technology transfer partnerships.

In India, the company generates two-third of its business from the defence sector, with transportation segment accounting for the rest, which is exactly the opposite of its business in China.

Asked if the company is looking to further invest in India when the defence sector opens up to 49 per cent investment, Caine said they are “pragmatic” and would not invest for the sake of investing. Thales has worked in countries with different models of investing, including the US where the country permits 100 per cent investment in FDI.

@MastanKhan @Windjammer @GURU DUTT @Abingdonboy
@HariPrasad @Omega007 @NKVD @ito @XiNiX @Hindustani78
@acetophenol @nForce @OrionHunter @thesolar65 @kurup @third eye @Echo_419
@MilSpec @Storm Force

 

[nForce]

Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' on the roll here.
A lot of matured Aerospace companies are taking keen interest in India, investing in India and setting up R&D centers in India.
It is not something limited to Aerospace only, but all the sectors.

I will post some news related to Aerospace here.

India seeks to attract global firms to invest in aerospace

Taking up the Narendra Modi government's 'Make in India' campaign avidly, the defence ministry is pulling all stops to ensure global firms invest in the fledgling aerospace industry so it can reduce imports and achieve self-reliance.

"In line with the government's policy to promote greater indigenisation in the defence sector, the thrust of the air show this time is on making requirements for our services within the country and reduce imports overtime," a senior official told IANS.

With 'Make in India' as the theme of the 10th edition of Aero India, the biennial expo will beckon global firms to become partners in developing the aerospace industry than being sellers only for the world's third largest armed forces.

"As 60 percent of our defence requirements are met by imports, the objective is to reverse the trend and become self-sufficient in manufacturing military equipment and become an exporter," defence exhibition organisation director M.D. Singh said ahead of the five-day mega event from Wednesday here.

The defence budget for this fiscal 2014-15 was increased 12.43 percent to Rs.229,000 crore ($38.15 billion), with 40 percent of it being spent on capital acquisitions.

In comparison, China allocated $132 billion and Pakistan $7 billion for their annual defence expenditure in this fiscal.

According to union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who held the defence portfolio for the first five months of the NDA government, India is the largest buyer of defence equipment in the world as domestic manufacturing is still at a nascent stage.

To encourage global firms manufacture in India through joint ventures with Indian partners, the new government increased the foreign direct investment (FDI) in defence production to 49 percent from 26 percent this fiscal.

FDI above 49 percent will be allowed on case-to-case basis on approval by the cabinet committee on security, with access to technology.

"Opening the strategic defence sector to the private industry will not only help foreign manufacturers to partner with Indian firms, but also help build domestic capabilities for meeting the requirements of our services and facilitate exports in the long-term," Singh noted.

The defence offset policy also has the potential to attract Rs.25,000-crore (Rs.250 billion) for global and Indian firms over the next eight years.

"The new policy promotes self-reliance, indigenisation, technology upgradation and achieve economy of scale for exports in the defence sector," Singh said.

India is in the process of finalising a $20-billion contract for 126 Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft from the French aerospace major Dassault Aviation.

Negotiations are also underway for procuring M777 155mm howitzers, Apache attack helicopters, Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, VVIP helicopters, mid-air refuellers and additional P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft, among others.

To convince global manufacturers and suppliers that he means business and woo them to invest in India than seek orders, Prime Minister Modi is flying here early Wednesday to flag off the air show along with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and top officials.

Of the 110 countries participating, the US is representing in a big way with a 64-member delegation, followed by France with 58 delegates, Britain 48, Russia 41 and Israel 25.

About 300 chief executives (CEOs) from global aerospace majors will hold business meetings with their Indian counterparts to explore joint ventures, co-development and outsourcing sub-systems, accessories and components.

About 750 overseas and Indian firms, including state-run enterprises will showcase their technologies and products at the expo in dozen pavilions spread over 2.5 lakh square metres at the venue.

Business-to-business (B2B) and roundtable meetings of Indian firms with those of Israel, Britain and Poland will be held at the event.

Heads and representatives from the Indian armed forces and paramilitary forces besides service chiefs from nine countries are among those attending the event.

A record number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are also participating in the event to help in pushing the 'Make in India' campaign.

Source

ThyssenKrupp Aerospace announces India foray

ThyssenKrupp Aerospace, part of ThyssenKrupp AG, the Garmany-based conglomerate, and supplier of aerospace materials and logistics, announced its foray into the Indian aerospace market with the setting up of a facility here.

This has been sited at the Aerospace Special Economic Zone, near the international airport, for processing of materials used in the segment.

“We will be sourcing a wide range of metals like titanium, aluminium, steel and high performing alloys, among others, from across the country. We will process and stock here and supply to tier-1, tier-2 and tier-3 vendors,” said Joachim Limberg, chairman of the management board of ThyssenKrupp AG for business area materials services.

He said the company would help Indian companies to make parts for Original Equipment Manufacturers, by supplying material. It has installed machining centres, cutting and milling units, and testing facilities at the Bengaluru plant. Thyssen-Krupp operates 40 such units across the world and the new facility is to cater for the growing needs of Indian aerospace components makers and public sector undertakings in the defence sector.

The company has invested around Rs 25 crore in the facility, which employs around 30 people. “More than our investment in the physical facility, we will be investing a substantial amount of money in sourcing and stocking materials of very high precision and performance,” said Jurgen Funke, president, Thysse-nKrupp Aerospace.

The facility will help the company gain market share in South Asia and go close to customers to address the latter’s needs, he said. Spread across 3,300 sq metres, the facility will stock the whole range of aerospace materials. The idea is to keep ready cut-to-size and machine-ready material that is shipped to the customer just-in-time, helping them save around three months for anything needed, said Gopi Hanumanthappa, managing director, ThyssenKrupp Aerospace India.

It also plans to partner in the central government’s Make in India programme. “This facility will play a critical role in developing a system in India for the growth of aerospace manufacturing,” said Limberg.

Also, ThyssenKrupp is in the process of finalising a plan for a new manufacturing plant for elevators, at Chakan near Pune. It is expected to invest around Rs 300 crore, sources said.

ThyssenKrupp’s presence in this country goes back to 1860. Currently, with annual sales of about Rs 3,000 crore, India is the third largest market for the company in the Asia-Pacific.

Source

 

[GURU DUTT]

looks more like media after all that blah blah campain that India is cancelling rafale deal was just another whimper and rafale is still betting huge on india .... so where do we go from here ?

 

[Stephen Cohen]

looks more like media after all that blah blah campain that India is cancelling rafale deal was just another whimper and rafale is still betting huge on india .... so where do we go from here ?

Yes Guru Bhai

It means that
1 Rafale deal is HAPPENING and

2 French Avionics will NOT GO where we dont want them to go

 

[GURU DUTT]

Yes Guru Bhai

It means that
1 Rafale deal is HAPPENING and

2 French Avionics will NOT GO where we dont want them to go

i never had any dought about those two points but onli concern is what will be the price tag of this deal as for the numbers it will be at least 4 full squads and half a dozen trainer variants

 

[Darmashkian]

@Gabriel92

 

[GURU DUTT]

Hey guyzz has anyone see Micromax Silver 5 Mobile.

why ?

are you the marketing head of micromax and are going to give free Micromax Silver 5 Mobile to each indian PDF memeber

or is this a marketing thread ?

or are you a troller who is butthurt about this potential deal going thru ?

 

[Stephen Cohen]

Hey guyzz has anyone see Micromax Silver 5 Mobile.

Mate you should put up such queries in Members Club

 

[GURU DUTT]

Naaaah I was going to purchase it for all PDFers but i think you don't want it. So no Cake for you
I am so butthurt that now i am going to purchase those submarines by myself.

im neither on FB nor on twitter or whatsapp so no issues as i personalli use "buttun wala phoone" so no issues waise bhi micromax phone to mera beta bhi use na karre

and if your going to by a submarine then also osder a paneer tariyaaki sub for me also

 

[GURU DUTT]

Hey but it is a good phone dude have you seen the photos please take a look and then let me know. It's very nice.
And i will come to your house by scorpene so be ready to go on a million dollar baby.

1 million dollar ka paneer sub bhai i live in delhi and use INR not in zimbawe and use thier currency

 

[GURU DUTT]

dude i am talking about scorpenewa. i will gift you one scorpenewa

scorpenewa .... sub snadwitch se chaddi tak barre hi ghatiya darjje ke chaip saleman ho bhai tum to

ye " scorpenewa" neva undergarments ki koi nayee line hai kya

but sorry bhai i use M&S undies ..... ye araam ka mamla hai bhai

 

[GURU DUTT]

No i was talking about lingerie
i thought you liked lingerie
On a serious note- I was talking about Scorpene
and BTW did you check out Silver 5

bhai meri ab wo umar nahi rahi ki mai apni biwi ko lingerie gift karoon

wo iska kuch aur hi matlab nikal legi aur fir mai ek ad hafte ke liye PDF se gayab ho jaonga ... samjha ker chotte

na micromax ki zaroorat nahi hai bhai my sali gifted me a samsung 6 something which i gifted back to her jedthaani as we share owr birthdays on 7th july thanks but no thanks mujhe to "buttun wala phoone " hi pasand hai

 

[gslv]

@GURU DUTT bhai , off topic ka bhi hadd hota hai. you ppl crossed the limit today.