Adani Defence & Aerospace has joined forces with Thales Group to bolster India’s defence manufacturing capabilities significantly. Together, they aim to produce 70 mm rockets designed for India’s attack helicopters, a crucial step in enhancing self-reliance in defence technology.
Thales, a global leader in this field, specializes in manufacturing 70mm rockets known for their precision in targeting soft and light-armoured vehicles, air defence installations, radar sites, and communication facilities using laser-guided technology.
Under the Buy Indian category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, Adani Defence has partnered with Thales from Belgium to establish local manufacturing, assembly, and testing facilities in India. This exclusive partnership not only supports India’s defence requirements but also opens avenues for exports, leveraging the competitive strength of India’s supply chain.
India currently operates several attack helicopter variants, including HAL Rudra, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, Apache AH-64, and Mi-35. The Indigenous LCH Prachand, inducted into the Air Force in 2022, is versatile in combat roles such as combat search and rescue, destruction of enemy air defences, counter-insurgency operations, and high-altitude operations.
Integrating Thales’ 70mm unguided rockets into India’s ALH Dhruv and LCH helicopters significantly enhances these rotary-wing platforms’ capability. These rockets, already proven in combat worldwide, are essential for maintaining India’s combat readiness across diverse terrains and operational environments.
Looking ahead, the collaboration also includes the development of next-generation guided rockets, reinforcing India’s defence ecosystem with advanced technology solutions. This partnership aligns with recent global events highlighting the critical importance of short-range air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities for rotary-wing platforms.
Furthermore, Adani Defence’s recent agreement with the EDGE Group from the UAE signifies a strategic initiative to establish a global platform for defence and aerospace solutions. This collaboration aims to harness the strengths of both companies, enhancing their respective product portfolios to meet the needs of global markets, including Southeast Asia.
The agreement with EDGE Group also explores possibilities for joint R&D facilities in India and the UAE, along with development, production, and maintenance facilities for defence and aerospace solutions. This initiative not only aims to serve the defence requirements of India and the UAE but also seeks to cater to broader global demands, reinforcing both countries’ roles in the international defence industry.