India Strategy Essential for OEM Co-Development: Telephonics

Any global aerospace and defence company must have an “India Strategy” and with a strong presence in India. Telephonics has been in India for 20 years, supplying airborne weather avoidance radar to HAL for installation on their helicopters, which now is a ‘standard’ radar on these helicopters. We cherish this rewarding programme.

We have been fortunate to be selected for the aft radar on the P-8i and look forward to supporting the H-47 programme. None of these programmes have helped to further develop the market for us. Options to grow presence for medium-sized defence companies like Telephonics are limited.

Over time the ‘hired’ presence of OEMs here have fallen from favour for a variety of reasons. Many medium-size companies do not have the resources to have business development assets in India on a full-time basis as the process of establishing a company here can be daunting.

In 2011, we established Mahindra Telephonics Integrated Systems. We will be an important part of the future when greater cooperation between public and private sector is to happen. The technologies that companies like Telephonics bring to India will accelerate growth of both public and private sector.

Despite the fresh face of cooperation and policy advances, what wins in the long-run are successful programmes at the “working level”. Transfer of technology will take time, but it is worth the effort to build the right infrastructure and supply chain in technology areas to advance capabilities while deepening country ties. We are encouraged by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s probusiness and economic reforms agenda and view this as a positive influence moving forward.

—By Mel French, Vice President, Business Development, Telephonics