ARC Joint Venture Opens Hyderabad Facility
Astra Rafael Communication System (ARC), a joint venture owned 51/49% by Astra Microwave Pvt Ltd and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd, opened a 20,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility in Hyderabad on 27 August, in the presence of the regional Minister of State for Home Affairs and the Israeli Ambassador to India.
In line with the government’s ‘Make in India’ policy, the company will design, develop and manufacture advanced tactical communications systems for the Indian armed forces – beginning with the BNET system. The venture envisions significant direct and indirect employment arising from its activities, as well as import substitution and foreign direct investment.
ARC will be India’s first private sector company to manufacture cutting-edge software-defined radios (SDR) in multiple variants. It will also be involved in the development and manufacture of a wide range of other advanced capabilities, with the aim of opening new export markets.
“Our cooperation with India is strategic. This has been demonstrated a number of times, not just in declarations, but in actions. The inauguration of the facility here today is yet another proof of Rafael’s implementation of India’s Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ strategy and policy and of our ongoing and uncompromising support for the needs and requirements of the Indian armed forces,” commented Rafael President & CEO, Yoav Har-Even.
“ARC is a company which is starting into the business of revolutionising the communication domain in the defence environment. Currently we have ongoing orders for providing state of the art software-defined radios to the Indian Air Force. We intend to work with all the players in this strategic sphere, both public and private sector, to create a great environment for defence electronics. ARC would like to acknowledge the contributions made by both Astra Microwave and Rafael in helping this company come alive and allow us to contribute to the country’s much-needed indigenous defence capability,” added ARC Chief Operating Officer, Ravi Harharan.
