Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS), a joint venture of Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited and Israel-based Rafael Advanced Systems, has bagged a $100 million contract to manufacture 1,000 BARAK - 8 MRSAM missiles kits.

The kits which will be manufactured at the KRAS facility here, Adibhatla on the outskirts, will be supplied to Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for further integration.

The facility came into existence in 2017 and had provided certain components for the SPICE missiles, which were used in the recent (February 26) airstrikes by the Indian Army at Balakot.

Rafael executive vice-president and general manager of Air and Missile Defence Systems division, Brigadier General (retired) Pini Yungman said that the joint venture had invested in the best in class production facilities and state-of-the-art engineering services.

“This will be India’s first missile hub which will provide maintenance near the site of deployment. These systems are operable for 20 to 25 years,” he said.

With the new contract, the KRAS plans to ramp up its employee strength to 300 technical experts by 2023. It will also start work on the order from the fourth quarter of the current financial year, to deliver in three-and-a-half years from then.

Kalyani Group chairman Baba Kalyani said, “This order is a testimony to the capabilities exists in the country and how they can be utilized to truly achieve the aim of Make in India. Kalyani Group is immensely proud of this achievement and our association with Rafael”.

He expressed confidence that the joint venture would execute many more orders.

Rafael has invested over $250 million in India through the Make-in-India initiative.

Baba Kalyani said that the joint venture has plans to set up a second facility in Telangana.

“We will talk to the state government for 100-acre land and amenities for the facility,” he said.

KRAS in future will also manufacture weapon sub-systems of Derby mark 3 Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Low Level Quick Reaction Missile systems (LLQRM) to IAF.