‘We are looking to expand in the international aerospace market’

SP’s Show News (SP’s): What are your short-term and long-term goals for the Samtel HAL JV?

Puneet (Kaura): We at Samtel are extremely excited about the future, as we are now one more step closer to the goal we had set for ourselves. Last year was a landmark year for us, as after a long journey of development, flight testing and qualification, one of our key products-multifunction display (MFD) for Su-30 MKI has been qualified and is now in production. Thus, the aim with which the Samtel HAL JV was set-up-that of addressing the avionics requirements of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), especially cockpit displays of all kinds, is now closer to realisation. The goal of Samtel-HAL joint venture is to indigenise critical primary display technology in India, and create a Centre of Excellence to produce indigenous displays for all existing and upcoming star platforms and upgrades of HAL. We are looking forward to move ahead on our journey towards induction of indigenous cockpit displays on all Indian platforms.

SP’s: What is the roadmap for your JV with Thales?

Kaura: Our joint venture with Thales-Samtel Thales Avionics has now been incorporated and is intended to locally develop, customise, manufacture, sell and maintain indigenous helmet-mounted sight and display systems and modern avionics systems for the Indian and export defence markets. Now that the company has been incorporated, we are looking forward to see some positive traction in this company as well. At Aero India, we are planning to showcase a glimpse of the complex systems that one can expect to see the JV produce in the near future.

In the international space, we have started the production of electronic flight instrumentation systems (EFIS40) for Honeywell’s Bendix/King range for general aviation aircraft. Samtel Display Systems has signed a long-term contract for production of this product and is the only supplier worldwide for this display. Year 2010 also marked the opening of our marketing and project management office in the USA, which is helping us expand our footprint in the US market and is also intended to serve our US customers in a more closely-coordinated manner. Last year, we also signed an memorandum of understanding with SAAB Avitronics for RIGS HUD, which adds on to our product portfolio as it is a head up display for rotary wing platforms.

SPs’: So what does the road ahead look like?

Kaura: Our road ahead includes development, production and induction of indigenous avionic displays and systems on all HAL star platforms. The mandate for this JV is to address the avionics requirements of HAL, especially cockpit displays of all kinds. With our other joint venture with Thales-Samtel Thales Avionics, we are planning some high technology complex Avionics systems for the Indian and export defence markets.

We are also looking to expand in the international aerospace market and are already in advanced stage of communications with some global majors. As part of our contract with Honeywell, the EFIS40 displays are already under production.