Mr S K Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
: What are the products BEL showcased at Defexpo 2014?
SKS : A Defexpo 2014 BEL showcased its latest technologies through the Technology Module section and products in areas of C4I Systems, radars, communication equipment, electronic warfare systems and avionics, sonars, encryptors, simulators, electro-optics & fire control systems and EMP shelters.
BEL’s stand at Central Hall– Lake showcased its R&D capabilities, displaying its latest range of products and systems, developed in-house. The main highlights of our display included :
Radar Systems including Bharani (Low Level Light Weight Radar), Weapon Locating Radar, Central Acquisition Radar, Battle Field Surveillance Radar-Extended Range and Ground Penetrating Radar, which have been developed in collaboration with DRDO labs.
Communication products like Software Defined Radio with different form factors, Radio Relay (Frequency Hopping Radio Relay & High Capacity Radio Relay), Point to Multi Point Radio, 100W HF Radio, Radio Trunking System, Data Link systems and Composite Communication Systems.
Key elements developed for use in various Network Centric Systems like computing elements in various forms, right from wrist-wearable computers, handheld computers, Tablet PC to rugged laptop and Military WiMAX System.
Network Centric Warfare solutions for the Indian Navy which include Combat Management System and Coastal Surveillance System, an all- weather 24x7 surveillance system developed for safeguarding the Nation’s coastline by networking various sensors such as radars, day and night electro optical elements, automatic identification systems and meteorological equipment.
Electronic Warfare & Avionics products like Missile Approach Warning System, LRUs for Flight Control System and Radar Finger Printing System.
With several major defence purchases in the pipeline, we expect global OEMs and their vendors to identify Indian partners and expect this exhibition will provide a meeting ground for such business partners. Apart from this, it also provided BEL, the premier defence electronics company of the country, a platform to showcase its capabilities to the world as well as to the Indian Armed Forces. Similarly, it also provided BEL an opportunity to meet and assess several companies from all over the world, in its domain of business.
: Please inform us about some of BEL’s successful orders and supplies in the last two years.
SKS: The major orders received are for Mobile Cellular Communication System (MCCS), SRE Radar AMC, Naval Radars and Sonar Export, Hull Mounted Sonar, Passive Night Vision Devices, Composite Communication System & Naval ESM Systems, Missile Warning System, Electronic Voting Machines and Combat Management System.
BEL has executed various projects in the last two years for Armed forces and non- Defence customers, which include MCCS, Mobile Ground Based Electronic Intelligence System, Passive Night Vision Devices, Battlefield Surveillance Radar– MR, Central Acquisition Radar, Fire Control Systems, Coastal Surveillance System, Akash Missile Systems for the Indian Air Force & Army, Missile Warning Systems and Biometrics for National Population Register.
: Could you elaborate upon some of your major programmes such as the Akash Weapon System, Radar and Fire Control Systems?
SKS : The Akash Weapon System is for air defence of Vulnerable Areas/Vulnerable Points against airborne threats penetrating from low, medium and high altitude. Air threats are from aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, remotely piloted vehicles (RPV) and cruise missiles.
As for radars, we have on order a wide range of 3D radars in mobile, static, ship-borne and light weight transportable configuration which are deployed for surveillance and air defence on land, sea and coastal zones. We also manufacture multifunction phased array radars as the major component of weapon systems for surveillance, tracking, missile guidance and fire control applications.