Ashok Leyland Defence and KMW to develop advanced defence systems
23 Feb 2011
Ashok Leyland Defence Systems Ltd. and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG, Munich, Germany, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly devfelop advanced defence systems for the Indian and global defence establishments.
KMW leads the European market for armoured wheeled and tracked vehicles.
Under the pact, the two companies will initially develop armoured wheeled vehicles, recovery vehicles, artillery and combat systems, bridge laying systems and other similar products.
"This strategic partnership seeks to harness the formidable skills of both companies, namely, the technological bandwidth of KMW and our approach to innovations aimed at cost advantage," says Dr V. Sumantran, chairman, Ashok Leyland Defence Systems. "For ALDS, this brings a new range of product opportunities with which we hope to fulfill India's growing defence needs and over time to address select overseas markets."
Ashok Leyland Defence Systems (ALDS), a newly formed company in which the Hinduja flagship, Ashok Leyland, has 26-per cent equity, will design and develo defence vehicles.
Ashok Leyland says it is the largest supplier of logistics vehicles to the Indian Army with over 60,000 of its Stallion vehicles forming the Army's logistics backbone.