ITT Exelis, a leader in command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) related products and systems, has strengthened its presence in India with partnership with the Tata Advanced Systems Limited. ITT Exelis is here for the long haul and explaining the intent to SP’s M.A.I. are Dave Prater, Vice President, Networked Communications, Communications and Force Protection Systems and Nick Bobay, Vice President and General Manager, Geospatial Systems, Night Vision & Imaging.

SP’s M.A.I. (SP’s): What is ITT Exelis footprint in India?

Dave Prater: ITT Exelis has an office in Delhi and I have been to Delhi and Bangalore a couple of times. We are in the pursuit of tactical communication systems, battlefield management systems of the Indian Army and of the National Security Guard (NSG) and Special Protection Group (SPG). We understand that the dismounted soldier needs compact and secure networked communications not limited by traditional radio frequency line of sight. It is here that SpearNet, which Indian customers seemingly are attracted to, is a 21st century communications system bringing voice, situational awareness (SA) and inter-networking access that surpasses traditional point-to-point communication system limitations on range and data rate.

SP’s: What are the features that SpearNet offer as per Indian requirements?

Prater: Primarily SpearNet radio is mobile networking design... it is unmatched in the world, in terms of size, weight, throughput and cost. We are quite happy that some of the Indian customers have shown interest in the product and we are waiting for the first order in India. Outside of India, we have good number of customers.

In terms of improvements, we have doubled the throughput. The little handheld radio has now 2 megabits per second sustained throughput and can achieve much higher throughput than this. The SpearNet radio was built commercially and fielded extensively in Spain. It is only now we have doubled the throughput.

Also it has unique capabilities. It is an open packetised radio which you can plug in USB, Ethernet, wireless or an Internet protocol as per requirements.

Prater: There are two customers in India. The Directorate General of Information Services (DGIS) and we are going to get into prime contract. We are working with a couple of them very closely to integrate our products to meet the TCS programme. It has now come to a down-select, but we haven’t heard as yet.

SP’s: What is the marketing strategy?

Prater: We are making separate efforts as a direct prime for the NSG and SPG who are looking more at available radios today. As far as TCS and BMS are concerned, they are technologies to develop solutions for the future. We will do that with an Indian-led prime.

SP’s: Are you working with anyone in India?

Prater: We are working with Tatas and we are competing for a position on their team. They are looking at us as potential partners. Recently, we have done good work with Tata Power and we would love to be on their team.

SP’s: What other products are you pitching for the Indian market?

Prater: We have Software Defined Radio (SDR) products that we think are well positioned for what India is doing with the BMS and future infantry soldier as a system (F-INSAS). The plan is to supply components to an Indian prime and then develop it for the Indian BMS requirement.