Saab subsidiary Saab Grintek Defence (SGD) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Avionics Division have signed a contract to deliver transfer of technology (ToT) between South Africa and India.
Announced at Aero India 2017, the contract – valued at ZAR112 million (USD8.5 million) – will see the transfer of technology for in-country maintenance of Saab’s Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS) system in India.
IDAS has been selected as the electronic warfare (EW) self-protection system for Indian Air Force and Indian Army Aviation Corps variants of the HAL Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter.
The maintenance ToT provides for the supply and commissioning of test infrastructure at HAL Hyderabad along with documentation and training of HAL personnel in both Centurion, South Africa, and Hyderabad.
“The export of this technology to India bodes well for future manufacturing and skills transfers, and for building an ongoing mutually beneficial partnership in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative,” says Trevor Raman, President and CEO of Saab Grintek Defence.
The ToT programme will run for 24 months and will qualify HAL Hyderabad as a Saab-approved IDAS repair facility. HAL will focus on maintenance and repair of IDAS equipment for the Indian end-users. Saab will continue to support HAL Hyderabad with critical spares and proprietary components for the entire service life of IDAS.
The contract follows a long term business agreement signed by SGD and HAL in 2005, which provides for the delivery of IDAS equipment by SGD, based on annual orders. Series production of IDAS systems at SGD is currently underway with more than 200 ordered to date.
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Saab AB – the Swedish aerospace and defence company, has its feet in two boats. It is their ‘Erieye’ airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft that guided the Pak air attack on the Indian brigade HQ and other installations in Nowshera on February 27, 2019. ? India had registered a diplomatic protest with Sweden after the Pakistani air force revealed that it had ordered three new Saab 2000 early warning aircraft in 2017.
Not surprisingly, this is something the IAF is not comfortable with, but Saab is upbeat regarding their chances in India because of their JV with the Adani Group. In the current scenario, that could open many doors. Saab with their JAS-39/Gripen fighter jet remains a serious MMRCA 2.0 contender.
Pak is also trying to buy arms from Russia – main battle tanks and fighter jets/helicopters and air defense systems. The main stumbling block is that our neighbour is broke. Pak is already flying six Mi-171s. Pakistani Air Force has ordered four Mi-35Ms – the latest version of the Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter.