BEML inks pact with Italy's Alenia Aeronautica

Bangalore-headquartered BEML Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Italy's Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A, to pursue a mutual collaboration for designing, manufacturing and selling a new primary/basic training aircraft on a new generation screener.

Product portfolio of Alenia, a global player in designing, building and integrating support complex system for both commercial and defence market worldwide, includes proprietary aircraft products like the C-27J, the ATR42MP and the ATR72ASW, according to a BEML statement.

"This initiative will help Ministry of Defence (BEML comes under it) in finding a reliable source for its requirements of Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA) and also a
befitting replacement for the existing HPT-32 Deepak Trainer Aircraft," it said.

The MoU was signed by BEML CMD V R S Natarajan and Alenia Aeronautica's Chief Operating Officer Alessandro Franzoni at this week's Paris airshow.

BEML said it has recently diversified its business into aerospace and acquired land at SEZ Aerospace Park near Bangalore International Airport for establishing an exclusive division for the manufacture of aerospace components and aggregates, fabrication of structural sub-assemblies and
jigs for aircraft structures.

BEML is already manufacturing and supplying ground support vehicles such as aircraft towing tractors, multi-purpose weapon loader and crash fire tender.