Raytheon has announced a series of fresh co-operation agreements with Indian industry, as the manufacturer moves to pursue business opportunities linked to the nation's pending acquisitions of new medium fighters, maritime patrol aircraft and naval helicopters.
Announced during the Dubai air show, the initiative involves the signature of memoranda of understanding with engineering firm Data Patterns, environmental control specialist Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing, engineering and manufacturing company Larsen & Toubro and software house Wipro.
The pacts follow a similar agreement signed with India's Tata earlier this year, under which Raytheon will seek co-operation on the development of advanced electronics equipment. The company also expects to conclude similar agreements with a further two Indian firms within the coming weeks, says Wes Motooka, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems' vice-president for international strategy and business development.
Raytheon is supporting the USA's offer of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin F-16 to meet the Indian air force's 126-aircraft medium multirole combat aircraft requirement, with the fighter manufacturers required to submit responses to New Delhi's request for proposals in March and offer a 50% defence offset proposal in June 2008.
"India is an excellent new market in explosive economic growth", says Motooka, who adds: "These strategic alignments make good business sense for Raytheon and for India."
Key areas of interest for the Raytheon partnerships are in seeking co-operation on technologies such as radar, electronic warfare equipment and electro-optical systems for military aircraft, with further emphasis to potentially be placed on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, air traffic control equipment and weapons, says Motooka.
Raytheon will next submit requests for quotations to the Indian firms on specific technologies before it moves to firm up its MoU, he says, adding: "We are working across the various elements of the company."
Source: Flight International
