Alpha Design Technologies to Partner Airbus on Radars

Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies Limited (ADTL) is working on the modalities of signing an agreement with Airbus for research and development work in the realm of radars, according to Colonel (Retd) H.S. Shankar, Chairman and Managing Director, ADTL. The agreement would be signed in the next three to six months and that both companies would be investing in the co-development programme.

Colonel Shankar told ShowNews that the company had been declared as the L1 for the 57 BMP simulators for the armed forces for which Alpha has a tie-up with Logos, a Russian firm through Rosoboronexport. The deal is worth `40 crore. Among the other projects the company is working on Software Defined Radio (SDR) programme. In association with IAI-Elta, the company is in for the Indian Air Force programme for SDR.

CHANGE IN CATEGORISATION SOUGHT FROM GOVERNMENT

Colonel Shankar said that as per the Government policy the SDR had been categorised as a ‘Make’ project whereas the industry has been asking for ‘Buy and Make’ project. The manufacture of SDR for the army, he said, is not a problem, bu the critical component was waveform generation and Alpha has the capabilities.

“We want the government to broadbase and not limit the competition to only big companies with over `1,000 crore turnover. The medium-scale industries have the capabilities and quick response time to provide expand the defence industrial base. If the government simplifies the criteria for ‘Make’ system by bringing down the turnover to `100 crore, it would encourage the SME sector.”