Odisha-based Anadrone Systems Private Ltd has bagged a contract worth 96 crores to supply expendable aerial targets to the Army and Air Force. This is the first deal to be finalised under the Make in India scheme of the defence ministry.
As per reports, Anadrone pipped infrastructure giant L&T to secure the contract. The firm from Gopalpur has been tasked to supply 125 Manoeuvrable Expendable Aerial Targets (MEAT) and associated equipment under the Make in India II category.
“It is the first contract under Make II. Efforts are being made to drive industry-led research and development in the defence sector,” said Sanjay Jaju, additional secretary-defence production, Ministry of Defence.
The Shikra MEAT system being manufactured by the company is a localised version of the Banshee Jet 40 system that used to be imported by the armed forces.
“The Shikra target solution was the only system able to demonstrate its ability to meet or exceed all of the required operational and performance requirements of the Indian Army and Anadrone was selected as a single-source vendor,” an Anadrone executive said. He also assured that at least 50% of the product supplied would have indigenous content.
The company has already supplied over 600 aerial targets from its Odisha factory in partnership with a UK firm. The Shikra is an aerial target designed to be used over land and sea for the training of crew on air defence weapon systems. The expendable drone can be manoeuvred at subsonic speeds to simulate an incoming target for air defence weapons.
The Department of Defence Production India took to Twitter to announce the deal. “A significant step towards #AtmanirbharDefence. The first success story of #Make-II Projects. Indian Army has signed the first contract today under Make-II for Maneuverable Expendable Aerial Target with M/s Anadron Systems Pvt Ltd worth ₹96 Cr, for Army Air Defence & Indian Air Force,” read the tweet.