Tata, Israeli co in defence systems JV

Tata group has tied up with Israel Aerospace Industry (IAI) for setting up and developing advanced technology systems for the defence sector.

The group has been allotted 30 acres at the aerospace special economic zone (SEZ) being developed by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corp (APIIC) at Adibatla near Hyderabad.
The JV, christened Nova Integrated Systems, will have an initial FDI of about $50 million.

“Nova is finalising plans to commence construction and build a world class facility for defence systems, bringing in and developing cutting-edge technology to India,” a Tata release said.

Hyderabad is said to have been selected as several defence labs such as DRDO, DRDL and Midhani are located there.

Meanwhile, Tata Advanced Systems (TAS) on Thursday commenced work on its manufacturing facility at the SEZ in Adibatla. The unit will manufacture cabins for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopters.

The Tata group company is expected to invest about Rs 1,000 crore on the project and create about 1,000 jobs directly. The project would be ready for commercial production in 2010.  The S-92 is a four-blade twin-engine helicopter manufactured by the US-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of military and commercial helicopters.