Hyderabad: Adani Defence and Aerospace, a defence sector focused company of the Adani Group, on Friday inaugurated its Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) facility in Hyderabad. The facility was set up in partnership with Israel’s Elbit Systems.
Ahmedabad-based port to vegetable oil group is the late entrant in the country’s vast defence and armament sector, a part of which has been opened to private sector a few years ago.
“The UAV complex, which has a staff count of 110, will roll out four complete carbon areo-structures for Hermes 900 in 2019 and 18 aero-structures in 2020. The first of the aero-structures is expected to roll out in March 2019... The structures would then be sent to Israel for final assembly to cater to the global markets,” said Adani Defence and Aerospace (ADA) head Ashish Rajvansi after the inauguration of its UAV Complex on Friday.
He, however, said that if the company manages to bag the 150 UAV orders from the Indian defence ministry, then the Hermes 900 Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV. would be built entirely in India and the complex will be upgraded.
The company, which was only registered just 18 months ago, however, isn’t willing to wait for Indian orders and has plans to explore the global market. The company plans to export its products manufactured here in the Aerospace Park.
“Due to our late entry, the company has been able to strategise better so that they don’t repeat the follies of the early entrants by focusing just on the Indian market,” the Adani Defence and Aerospace head said.
“Other than the UAV complex, the 20 acre Aerospace Park will also house a helicopter unit and a training and R&D facility. Of which, the helicopter gear complex — a joint venture with Rave Gears — is expected to come up by September next year.”
“The helicopter plant, currently, is in the design phase and would be coming up in a second tent next to our UAV complex,” he explained.
