Two Year Technology Transfer Programme
At Aero India 2017 Saab subsidiary Saab Grintek Defence (SGD) and Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Avionics Division signed a contract valued at ZAR112 million (US$8.5 million) for technology transfer to enable HAL to maintain Saab’s Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IADS) in India.
IDAS has been selected as the EW self-protection system for Indian Air Force and Indian Army Aviation Corps variants of the HAL DHRUV Advanced Light Helicopter. Technology will be transferred for the supply and commissioning of test infrastructure at HAL’s Hyderabad facility, along with documentation and training for HAL personnel. The programme will run for 24 months and will qualify HAL Hyderabad as a Saab-approved IDAS repair facility. HAL will focus on maintenance and repair of IDAS equipment for the Indian end-users, while Saab will continue to support HAL Hyderabad with critical spares and proprietary components for the entire service life of IDAS.
“The export of this technology to India bodes well for future manufacturing and skills transfers, and for building an ongoing mutually beneficial partnership in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative,” says Trevor Raman, President and CEO of Saab Grintek Defence.
The contract follows a long-term business agreement signed by SGD and HAL in 2005, which provides for the delivery of IDAS equipment by SGD, based on annual orders. Series production of IDAS systems at SGD is currently underway, with more than 200 ordered to date.