Big News Article (Cover Page Article)

Group Chairman inks Agreement with largest Russian Defence Company

– Almaz-Antey, for Texmaco’s Aviation Business.

By : Mr. TS Darbari,
MD & CEO, Texmaco Defence &
Chief Executive, Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd.

Our Group Chairman’s vision and commitment to the nation, in consonance with
the clarion call of our Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, for the “Make-in-India”
Programme, is to assist in augmenting India’s indigenous Production
capabilities for Defence, Aerospace, Homeland Security and for the
Central Police and Para-Military Forces, with a focus on technology
transfer from the Globally renowned OEM’s for various envisaged projects,
under the “Make-in-India” programme. This has led to the incorporation of
Texmaco Defence Systems Private Limited (TDSPL) to cater to both the
indigenous and export related requirements.

It was during the 4th India Russia Military Industrial Conference (MIC)
held under the Joint Chairmanship of Dr. Ajay Kumar, IAS, the then
Secretary, Defence Production, Govt. of India, (now Defence Secretary)
and Mr. O.N. Ryazantsev, Deputy Minister of Industry & Trade, Russian
Federation, Moscow, that the first step towards operationalization of the
Group Chairman’s vision was taken in right earnest by Mr. T S Darbari,
MD & CEO, TDSPL and CE, TREL & Mr. Dharam Vir, Board Director,
TDSPL, along with Wing Commander Anil Arora (Retd) by signing a
Working Protocol with Almaz–Antey, (USD 9.125 Billion Company), the
largest Defence Production Corporation in Russia and the Number 8
Defence Company in the world, for providing joint product support /
repair & production of spare parts & assisting in sourcing of equipments
in India, for the proposed $ 400 missiles supplies to India.

Thereafter in November, 2018, a Top Management Delegation from

Almaz-Antey had discussions with the BOD of TDSPL, in Delhi, with
certain strategic suggestions, to take the cooperation levels forward, including
the decision to collaborate in the marketing for the civil business zone
i.e. Air Traffic Management Systems and Maneuverable Aerial Targets
required for the Indian Defence Forces. Subsequently, in January, 2019,
our Group Chairman, has written to Mr. Y.V. Novikov, General Director,
JSC Concern VKO, Almaz-Antey, Russia, sharing his vision of a robust
cooperation and a futuristic road map, apropos the timeframes for S-400
supplies to the Indian Army, in accordance with the Agreement signed on
5th October, 2018, for the purchase of world’s most advanced long range
Air Defence Systems S-400 for approx. cost of Rs. 40,000 crores, which
happened during the State Visit of the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir
Putin.

The Group Chairman met Mr. Vladimir Medovnikov, Deputy Chairman of

the Board of Directors, Almaz-Antey, on 21st February, 2019, on the
sidelines of the International Air Show “AERO INDIA 2019” held in Bengaluru,
and signed an Agreement for close cooperation in the field of Air Traffic
Management and Navigation Systems of Almaz-Antey for the Indian
market, by bidding in Indian tenders, for the civilian market as well, in
addition to participating jointly in various RFPs of Indian Armed Forces,
Para-Military Forces and the DRDO, etc., for the forthcoming Make-in-India
Projects. This agreement was followed up and an authorization letter dated 18th
March, 2019, from the Deputy Director General, Almaz-Antey, Moscow,
addressed to the MD & CEO, TDSPL, was received, duly authorizing TDSPL as the
Strategic Partner of Almaz-Antey for exploring the possibilities in the prospective
Indian market for marketing, sales and joint development & manufacture of
ATMS under the category of Make-in-India and for deputation of ATMS
specialists from Moscow for joint presentation to the prospective buyers, both in
the civilian and the Defence verticals.

As a step further for implementing the Group Chairman’s vision, TDSPL has
created a Civil Aviation Division (CAD) which is now spearheading entry of
Texmaco in the areas of Air Traffic, Surveillance & Navigation Systems.The
Indian Civil Aviation Industry is growing at a very fast pace and GoI is
developing Aviation Infrastructure to meet the demand. The existing Airports are
being upgraded and new Greenfield Airports are being developed in cities where
the existing Airports are not able to meet the growth in air traffic.

Mr. TS Darbari, MD & CEO, Texmaco Defence, highlighted the urgency and need
for a unified Air Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) for handling Drones and
other Air Traffic movements in the Civil Airspace in India, as the DGCA have
started issuing Licences for Drones in the Civil Airspace & the consequential
growth rate in the UAV/UAS/Drone Traffic in India, and the urgent requirement
by the Govt. of India for conceptualizing proactive unified ATC solutions to the
top management of Almaz – Antey.

During the discussions the Texmaco Board Directors had with Mr.
Vladimir Medovnikov, Dy. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Almaz-
Antey, Mr. T S Darbari further pointed out that a number of Greenfield
Airports have been planned and approved by GoI. Although these Greenfield
Airports are to be operated by Private Parties, yet the responsibility for providing
Air Navigation Services rests with Airports Authority of India. Air Navigation
Services (ANS) comprise of Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS)
and Air Traffic Management (ATM) service. These new Airports will require
complete new ANS Infrastructure as per ICAO guidelines. Following Airports are
under construction and tenders for provision of ANS systems including
automation are going to be floated in near future: Navi Mumbai Airport, Navi
Mumbai; Jewar Airport, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh; Goa Airport, MOPA, GOA;
Dhullera Airport, Ahmadabad; Purander Airport, Pune.

Almaz–Antey, being a global leader in state-of-the-art solutions for Air

Navigation Services (ANS), including Communication, Navigation and
Surveillance (CNS), Mobile ATC Towers, Air craft Simulators, Turn key solutions
for Heliports & Water-drones, Automation Systems Console Panels, etc., would in
partnership with Texmaco bid for the forthcoming opportunities and this would
flag off a new chapter in the close cooperation between India and Russia.

The Group Chairman availed of the opportunity to meet Mr. V.N. Chernov, First
Dy. General Director of United Aircraft Corporation : RAC – MiG for discussion on
setting up maintenance and MRO Centre in India, for onboard equipments of the
MiG Series Fighter Aircraft as well as with Mr. Sergey Moshenkov, Project
Director of the USD 8.3 billion, United Engine Corporation (UEC) Russia, which is
the umbrella company responsible for deign and manufacture of all Aviation
Engines for civil as well as military use. These are being used by the Indian
Airforce and the Indian Navy, in both the Russian Aircrafts and Helicopters fleet
in India. These initial discussions would be taken up further during the next
round of talks between Texmaco, RAC MiG and UEC.

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