Tata Power SED to develop battlefield management system

The Strategic Engineering Division of Tata Power, which is into design, development and production of defence systems catering to air defence, tank and gun ballistics, electronic warfare, radar, and night vision sensors, is eager to tap the next wave in defence and aerospace.

The Defence Ministry recently selected Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division (SED)’s consortium for the second ‘make’ programme, to develop a Battlefield Management System (BMS), worth over ₹50,000 crore.

BMS is one of the largest solutions to be indigenously manufactured for the Indian Army. Over the next 5-7 years, when BMS will be deployed by the army, it will cover more than 70 per cent of soldiers, while digitising the tactical battlefield and creating a secure Internet of Things (IoT) for the army.

“Tata Power SED is targeting a total addressable market of ₹7,00,000 crore over the next 10 years,” said Rahul Chaudhry, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Power SED. The company, which has a total order backlog of ₹1,900 crore, has targeted a compound annual growth rate of 50 per cent over the next 10 years, Chaudhry added.

It was one of two private companies to be awarded a prime contract by the Defence Ministry for the Pinaka MBRL (Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher). In March 2006, the Indian Army placed a $45 million contract with Tata Power SED and Larsen & Toubro to deliver 40 Pinaka MRBLs.

Designed to replace the army’s Russian-built BM-21 Grad launchers, the Pinaka 1 weapon system has already been inducted into the Indian military. At the start of 2016, the Indian Army successfully completed user-assisted trials of Pinaka II, at Pokhran in Rajasthan.

Winning the BMS contract a decade after Pinaka MBRL, Tata Power SED is now eager to participate in one of the largest indigenous solutions offered to Indian defence, meant to deliver command and control capabilities to the fighting echelons, and help the forces move a step closer to the battlefield of the future.

The owner of seven defence production licences, the company’s transformation as a prime contender to develop BMS has taken over four decades. Started in 1973, the company has been partnering with the Defence Ministry, armed forces, defence PSUs and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The company has a 500-seaterresearch and development centre in Mumbai and Bengaluru, and a Defence Production and Maintenance Factory at Bengaluru. With a state-of-the-art production facility at Electronic city, Bengaluru, the company has continued investments in capital expansion.

“We have already invested ₹500 crore. We received approval from the Board to invest over ₹700 crore at the manufacturing plant in Vemagal, Karnataka, spread over 75 acres and dedicated to defence, in addition to the 10-acre facility for prototyping and production in Electronic City,” said Chaudhry. He added that plans were on to double the investment at Vemagal in the next 2-3 years.

The company has also emerged as a prime contractor to the Defence Ministry for the Akash Army Launcher and Integrated EW System for the Indian Army, and for the Akash Air Force Launcher, COTS-based Automatic Data Handling System for Air Defence, and Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure (MAFI) for the Indian Air Force.

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