Rafael - supporting ‘Make in India’
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. designs, develops, manufactures and supplies a wide range of high-tech defence systems for air, land, sea space and cyber applications for the Israeli Defence Forces and the defence establishment, as well as for customers around the world. The company offers its customers a diversified array of innovative solutions at the leading edge of global technology, from underwater systems through naval, ground and air superiority systems to space systems.
Rafael prides itself in being able to create partnerships with international leading aerospace and defence companies overseas. Offset activities and industrial cooperation have been set up with over 20 countries worldwide.
India and Israel are strategic partners and Israel has always supported India’s urgent operational necessities during times of crises. For Rafael too, India is a strategic and significant partner. Rafael has always stood by India to supply systems at short notice during various operational contingencies. Accordingly, Rafael has been more than willing to create structures to ensure technological transfer to India.
As per a Rafael spokesman, “We already work with the different branches of the Indian military and the Indian security apparatus and have cooperated to integrate our electro-optical systems, advanced ordnance, as well as air defence systems. We have done so while maintaining and implementing our strategy to forge local partnerships and address India’s Make-in-India policy.”
Rafael has been working steadily to create technology partnerships or joint ventures with major Indian companies to address projects which have been awarded or are about to be rewarded. By working through these Indian companies, Rafael expects downstream MSMEs also to be given high technology work in their specialised fields, which will feed into the joint venture. A significant work share of Rafael contracts is being manufactured in India while investing in infrastructure, technology transfer, training with its partners and sub-vendors which most are MSMEs.
For the Litening weapon designation pods to the Indian Air Force, Rafael went above the expectations of merely providing 30% offsets, and instead is producing large scope of the pod in India through a tech tie-up with Defsys located in Gurgaon near Delhi.
Kalyani Rafael Advanced System Systems (KRAS) JV has been formed to ensure that the maximum Indian component manufacturing of the advanced precision tacticaltac munition ( Spike ATGM), which is to be integrated by Bharat Dynamics Lt., is done in India. This JV will also produce other future munitions.
Rafael is creating a JV company, Astra Rafael Communications (ARC) with Astra Microwave, Hyderabad so as to be able to maximise the indigenisation of the Software Defined Radio (SDR) and EW systems.
For air defence and air to air domain, Rafael is forming a JV company with Reliance, Rafael Reliance Advanced Defence Systems (RDS). The JV will be able to provide the MoD with these missiles from an indigenous manufacturer and support the ongoing programmes.
“Rafael is looking at creating a strong and long lasting partnerships to allow future exports from its JVs in India to other international markets. In addition to JVs, Rafael is also working closely with other Indian companies to provide the best technology to the Indian Armed Forces.”