BEL to open defence systems integration complex in Andhra

Navratna PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) today said it is setting up a defence systems integration complex at Palasamudram in Anantapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh with an estimated investment of about Rs 500 crore over the next three-four years. It will be the largest such facility in the country once it is commissioned, covering an area of over 900 acres, the company said in a release.Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, will lay the foundation stone for the facility on September 30 in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, among others."We at BEL have been continuously investing in modernisation and creation of special infrastructure to cater for emerging defence business opportunities. The upcoming facility at Palasamudram is one such initiative," BEL Chairman and Managing Director S K Sharma said. "We are also strengthening our infrastructure in areas like night vision technologies and elements of multifunction radars," he said, adding that various new surface to air missile (SAM) programmes are proposed to be taken up by BEL.

Stating that the Palasamudram facility will enable BEL to expand its missile systems business and will carry out manufacturing and integration for the ongoing and upcoming projects, BEL said it will have state-of-the-art infrastructure such as Assembly Hangars and Hard Stands for Radars and Weapon integration, among others. At present, BEL carries out its missile manufacturing and integration activities and system level checks at its Bengaluru Unit. In order to cater to the large requirements of futuristic surface to air missile systems, missiles and associated electronic sub-systems & components, BEL is setting up this facility in Andhra Pradesh.

The proposed complex will be a world-class facility with automated guided vehicles and industrial robots for material movement and handling. BEL also plans to expand this facility for the creation of a military industrial complex to set up the necessary ecosystem for manufacture of electronic components and equipment for various upcoming Defence projects in collaboration with SMEs as part of the government's Make in India initiative.