The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 28, 2022
In a landmark event under the Make in India scheme of the Ministry of Defence, Odisha-based Anadrone System has bagged the contract to supply advanced defence equipment to the Indian Army and Air Force.
The contract to supply 125 Maneuverable Expendable Aerial Targets (MEAT) and associated equipment worth Rs 96 crore, under the Make in India II category, which is meant for research and development projects, funded by the industry with an indigenous content of over 50 percent, was signed last week, the company told media persons at a press meet here today.
The Shikra MEAT system being manufactured by the company is a localised version of the Banshee Jet 40 system that has earlier been imported by the armed forces.
The company has collaborated with a UK-based defence tech company to build systems for air defence training from simple, low-performance model aeroplane targets through maneuverable targets to sophisticated high subsonic and supersonic systems. It has an R&D and manufacturing unit located strategically at the TATA Steel SEZ, Gopalpur.
“Such initiatives will attract more MSMEs to participate in the nation’s defence projects which will ultimately reduce the import burden and promote the indigenous defence manufacturing sector of India,” commented Brig (Retd) LC Patnaik.
Thanking the State Government for encouraging the entrepreneurs and MSMEs, Anadrone SystemsManaging Director Anant Bhalotia appreciated the robust single window portal – GO SWIFT and stressed the future expansions of the company in Odisha.
Reportedly, Anadrone Systems provided key inputs in drafting the Odisha Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Policy 2018 and was also a part of Odisha’s delegation to the UK in 2016.
