Communications

16.2 - 19.02.2008
 
New Delhi
 
From 16 to 19 February, Finmeccanica will present at Defexpo 2008, New Delhi, its capabilities in the aeronautics, helicopters, security and defence systems sectors.
 
India is experiencing a time of strong economic growth and is likely to see important government programmes in Defence and Aeronautics sectors in the next 10-15 years.
 
As a matter of fact, owing to the extraordinary rise in the number of flights, the country needs to equip itself with appropriate air traffic control and management systems and new aircraft to cope with market demand.
 
Finmeccanica is responding to the former with the technological capabilities of systems manufactured by SELEX Sistemi Integrati, which over the years has supplied radar equipment to the largest airports in the country, and has recently won the contract to supply 13 systems (comprising primary radar ATCR33 S, secondary radar SIR S and 52 CDS 2000 consoles) for the Indian Air Force's air traffic control.
 
At the same time, the larger Indian airlines - Jet Airways, Air Deccan, Air Alliance and Kingfisher - have already bought dozens of turboprop regional aircraft manufactured by ATR, a joint venture between Alenia Aeronautica and EADS. In Bangalore ATR opened a Customer Support Centre and - in partnership with Air Deccan - a training centre which will operate for both Indian and other airlines.
 
The increasing presence of ATR in India, as well as the opportunity to access training centres and a wide technical support network, could also help persuade the country to choose the twin-engine ATR42MP for maritime patrol missions.
 
The ATR42MP is equipped with Galileo Avionica's ATOS mission system, and Seaspray search radar developed by SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems, the most advanced system available for this category of aircraft, also chosen by the US Coast Guard to update its HC-130 patrol planes. On 1 January 2008, SELEX Sensors & Airborne Systems and Galileo Avionica began to operate on the market with the name SELEX GALILEO.
 
In the helicopters business, AgustaWestland has strong interests in the country in terms of potential developments in the civil market and also for the tender under way to supply VVIP helicopters to the Armed Forces.
 
The AW101 is the ideal helicopter for this programme, in light of its recent successes on the international market, and the additional interest that it could generate in the Navy and Air Force. In addition, AgustaWestland is continuing its strategy of strengthening existing relationships with distributors and local maintenance and technical support centres, and of identifying potential partners for joint development projects in India.
 
Moreover, in response to the Indian Navy's requirements for a naval helicopter, AgustaWestland is promoting the NH90 helicopter in the NFH version for naval applications for which the company has full responsibility for the mission system integration.
 
In the air defence sector, SELEX Sistemi Integrati is competing for the contract to supply 30 3D Low-Level Transportable Radar systems (LLTR) for the Indian Air Force.
 
India - which boasts a long tradition in the naval sector - also has ambitious projects for the Navy that could involve Finmeccanica companies as suppliers and integrators not only of Combat Management Systems and Command and Control systems, but also of individual equipment, weapons systems and sensors, such as SELEX Sistemi Integrati's RAN 40L naval radar, already installed on board the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour.
 
To this end, Finmeccanica companies also co-operate with local companies in both the development and production phases: WASS, which is promoting its Black Shark systems for Scorpene submarines, is working with Bharat Dynamics Ltd in the underwater systems sector. Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has obtained from Oto Melara a licence to produce 76mm naval cannons.
 
The licence could also be extended to cover production of 127mm cannons, which are currently the subject of a tender process for installation on the Indian Navy's new class of destroyer.
 
In a country with an area of over 3 million sq km, 7000 km of coastline and a population of more than 1 billion inhabitants, state-of-the-art instruments and systems capable of confronting and responding to any type of threat efficiently and rapidly are essential to guarantee safety and security and protect the country's borders, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and its critical infrastructure.
 
Finmeccanica's large systems and solutions match these needs.
 
Defexpo 2008 Brochure .pdf (1365 KB)
Defexpo 2008 Plan .pdf (165 KB)