Aero India 2019: World's leading defence entity Lockheed Martin broadens its manufacturing capabilities in India; Ties up with Indian public sector BEML

Aero India 2019 (Day 2): World's largest defence equipment manufacture Lockheed Martin has tied up with public sector BEML, a ‘Miniratna-Category 1 Company, for manufacturing advance equipment in India.

This step opens up avenues for collaboration between the two companies to explore manufacturing of support equipment opportunities in aerospace.

The certificate of partnership was inked by Deepak Kumar Hota, Chairman & Managing Director, BEML and Dr. Vivek Lall, Vice President, Business Development, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, US. 

Dr  Vivek Lall, a world renowned aerospace scientist and part of key federal aviation advisory committee to the US President Trump administration, has been instrumental in broadening Lockheed's presence in India. 

While India is pressed hard for building advance defence equipment, the significant technology gap and the transfer of technology are two major impediments. Lockheed's agreement with BEML is a much needed boost for the growing Indian PSU to scale up the advance platforms.

On the sideline of Aero India, speaking exclusive with BW Businessworld, BEML CMD, Deepak Hota remarked: "There seems to be a convergence on the kind of aerospace requirement that you have in country." He added: "we have about 700 aircraft at the moment and this is going to be 1600 in next 5 years and there is requirement of lots of maintenance, overhauling and parts upgrade which are are mostly done outside India, we want it to be done here in India."

"As they qualify BEML as a partner, It is important that we deliver to them quickly, credibly and up to their exacting standards for the items that we will be supplying to Lockheed, and It ( BEML) can be a source of their global supply chain of F-16 fighter jets. 

BEML will be supplying advance components and sub-parts of the aircraft and related to its maintenance to Lockheed Martin.

Talking about the collaboration with Lockheed Deepak Hota said: "Lockheed is the world's most reputed aviation company and it is a matter of honor that they have chosen BEML for the exacting standard, and this is the result of a year long discussion with them that we have finally signed up today."

BEML has been the part of LCA 'Tejas Project' and designed and developed various ground handling and ground support equipment for Tejas. While Tejas is gearing up for MK 2 level, the next generation medium weight fighter jet, Lockheed martin has offered to contribute in the project in India along with its newly updated F 21 fighter jets program.

During the inaugural session of Aero India 2019, Lockheed Martin unveiled the F-21, a multi-role fighter jet for India, which the company claimed, will be a catalyst to the aerospace ecosystem in India. This will be a significant steps as BEML is already coming up with aerospace facility at SEZ near Bengaluru. 

The collaboration with Lockheed will further broaden the offset obligations and benefit the local manufacturing units as the part of supply chain ecosystem of BEML.