Thales, a global technology player in aerospace, transport, defence and security, is eyeing India for offering its latest Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems and radars in view of the growing demand for them in the country.
Thales is in talks with its partners in India who need around 200 UAVs, a top company official said during a recent media interaction at the company’s facilities at Bretigny and Rouen in France.
According to PTI, Thibault Trancart, Vice President, Marketing and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Strategic Projects of Thales said that the company is in discussions with a couple of companies in India and checking what they can do with them.
He added that the company has got BEL-Thales Systems Limited (BTSL), a joint venture company between Bharat Electronics Limited and Thales, where they are developing a fire control radar for both gun and missile systems.
The Thales official also spoke about a ‘major interest’ from South East Asia for the company’s ‘Searchmaster’ radar which combines the benefits of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antenna technology in a lightweight and modular design.
Thales also announced that it will deliver to India 36 hi-tech RBE2 AESA radars aboard Rafale aircraft from 2019.
Thales will deliver the first batch of ‘Spy’ Ranger fixed wing UAVs to the French armament procurement agency next year, the company’s product line manager of UAVs, Pascal Secretin, said.
Each system consists of three vehicles and a ground control station.
The mini UAV has an operating range of 30 km, delivers a high-definition with day and night capability.
It has a wing span of 3.8 metre, weighs 14.5 kg, and can stay aloft for two and a half hours.
The company has 64,000 employees spread across 56 countries. It has been present in India since 1953 and has over 300 employees working with its wholly owned Indian subsidiary, Thales India Pvt Ltd.
Thales has been associated with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and has formed joint ventures with Samtel, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and L&T Technology Services.
A member of the Rafale team, Thales has also delivered four upgraded Mirage 2000 to the Indian Air Force.
