Touted as the first defence-oriented engineering unit operated by a foreign company in the country, the centre aims at developing indigenous defence products for India. Indian staff trained in Europe will work in the centre and develop products in the company's core competencies - radar systems, protection systems, avionic systems, engineering IT and 3D visual simulation, aerostructure and aerospace modelling & simulation.
The centre was inaugurated by Stefan Zoller, CEO of Cassidian in the presence of Minister of State for Defence, Pallam Raju on Tuesday. At present, the centre has 60 employees, but the workforce would be increased to 120 by 2012.
The centre's establishment is seen as a 'significant' step towards developing indigenous defence products in India. Sources say that the aim is to make India a supplier rather than just a buyer of defence technologies.
Published 09 February 2011, 17:42 IST