HAL signs MoU with SGD

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and Swedish company Saab’s South African subsidiary Saab Grintek Defence (SGD) have signed a $8.5-million contract to deliver transfer of technology.

The contract will see the transfer of technology for in-country maintenance of Saab’s Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS) in India. IDAS, which has been selected as the electronic warfare self protection system for Dhruv helicopters, warns about radar, laser and infrared-guided threats and deploys counter measures.

The new contract provides for supply and commissioning of  test infrastructure at HAL’s Hyderabad centre. It involves training of HAL personnel in Hyderabad as well as Saab’s South African centre. It will take two years for completion of technology transfer, after which HAL, as a Saab-approved facility, will repair IDAS equipment users in India.