Defense and security company Saab and the Kalyani Group, one of India’s leading high-technology multinationals, said Monday they have entered into a strategic alliance to partner and address key Indian Army air defense projects, including the Very Short Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) and the Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) requirements.
The teaming combines Saab’s decades as a leading developer and supplier of proven high-technology radar and missile systems with the engineering and manufacturing capabilities of Kalyani.
Not a week earlier, Feb. 6, Saab joined forces with India’s transport specialist Ashok Leyland
to compete for the Indian Army SRSAM air defense program (Defense Daily, Feb. 7).
Saab’s CEO and President Håkan Buskhe and Chairman of the Kalyani Group Baba Kalyani signed the strategic agreement during the Defexpo exhibition in India. The exhibition offers India the opportunity to see some of the most advanced air defense systems available from the international defense community.
Kalyani said, “this coming together of the Kalyani Group and Saab is a very important step in our journey to address the indigenization efforts of the Indian defense sector. The partnership between the Kalyani group and Saab will leverage our strong innovation-based manufacturing capability, coupled with Saab’s technical expertise and leadership in air defense systems, to deliver state-of-the-art, world leading solutions to the Indian Army’s air defense programs.”
Bushke supports India’s ambitions, saying, “Saab has made a long-term commitment to India and is keen to support India’s efforts to create an indigenous defense industry. This tie-up with Kalyani Group marks a significant step in that direction, where the two parties will serve India’s air defense missile system requirements through indigenous production and transfer of technology.”
Initially the agreement will focus on India’s VSHORAD and SRSAM programs.
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Photo: Saab
Saab is offering a system based on the RBS 70 NG missile system for VSHORAD, delivering a highly accurate, man-portable system with 24/7 all-target capability that is immune to countermeasures.
For the SRSAM requirement, Saab is pitching a unique combination of its Giraffe AMB 3-D radar and the BAMSE advanced ground based air defense missile system.
Saab has done business with the Indian armed forces for some 30 years, dating back to the first order to upgrade the Carl Gustav Anti-tank system, the company said.