Indigenous SAM Akash operationalised –Tata Power bags production orders
30 Mar 2009
Mumbai: Indian utility Tata Power Co Ltd said Monday its defence systems unit had secured a contract worth Rs182.46 crore ($36 million) to supply indigenously developed, short range Akash missile launchers. It was not stated which arm of the services the orders were intended for, though the Indian Air Force is the only service for which the Defence Research and Development Organisation has conducted user trials.
The Indian Army is also an intended customer though reports have indicated it has been dilly-dallying from expressing an interest in the missiles.
Tata Power's Strategic Electronics Division (SED) will supply 16 'Akash' missile launchers over 33 months, it said in a statement.
"For last four decades Tata Power SED has been closely working with MoD (ministry of defence) and DRDO (Defence Research Development Organisation) for defence requirements," said Rahul Chaudhry, CEO of Tata Power Strategic Electronics Division. ''The increased private sector participation in defence will give Tata Power SED more credibility as a long term reliable partner for the Indian Defence forces.''
The SED secured orders for the Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System from the Indian Army in 2006, Tand an order for Integrated Automatic Data Handling System for air defence from the Indian Air Force.