Defence and security company Saab and the Kalyani Group, one of India’s leading high-technology multinationals, entered into a strategic alliance to partner and address key Indian Army air defence projects, including the VSHORAD and SRSAM requirements.

The teaming combines Saab’s many decades as a leading developer and supplier of proven high-technology radar and missile systems, with the rich engineering and manufacturing capabilities of Kalyani. The agreement was signed by Saab’s CEO and President Håkan Buskhe and Baba Kalyani, Chairman of the Kalyani Group, during Defexpo in New Delhi.

Baba Kalyani stated: “This coming together of the Kalyani Group and Saab is a very important step in our journey to address the indigenisation efforts of the Indian defence sector. The partnership between the Kalyani Group and Saab will leverage our strong innovation-based manufacturing capability, coupled with Saab’s technical expertise and leadership in air defence systems, to deliver stateof-the-art, world leading solutions to the Indian Army’s air defence programmes.”

Håkan Bushke again expressed his continuing support for India’s ambitions noting that “Saab has made a long-term commitment to India and is keen to support India’s efforts to create an indigenous defence industry. This tie-up with Kalyani Group marks a significant step in that direction, where the two parties will serve India’s air defence missile system requirements through indigenous production and transfer of technology.”

The agreement will initially focus on the VSHORAD and SRSAM programmes for India. Saab is offering a system based on the RBS 70 NG missile system for VSHORAD, delivering a highly accurate, man-portable system with 24 x 7 all-target capability that is immune to countermeasures. For the SRSAM requirement Saab is offering a unique combination of its Giraffe AMB 3-D radar and the BAMSE advanced ground-based air defence missile system.