Howitzer: BAE Systems selects Mahindra as business partner
Bengaluru, Feb 17: Propelling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India mission, BAE Systems on Wednesday said that it has down-selected Mahindra as business partner for the proposed home-grown Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) facility for the M777 Ultra Lightweight Howitzer.
BAE Systems said that they are looking forward to working with Mahindra in the coming weeks to firm up on the details of the AIT facility and to negotiate the terms of its contractual arrangement.
As reported earlier by OneIndia, India and the United States are in discussions for a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 145 M777A2 LW155 howitzers for the Indian Army.
Dr Joe Senftle, Vice President and General Manager, Weapon Systems, BAE Systems, promised to support the two governments to begin the process of Make in India for M777.
"As a founding partner of defence manufacturing in India, BAE Systems is pleased to partner with Mahindra on our offer to develop an AIT facility in India. The facility is a fundamental part of the M777 production line. A domestic Assembly, Integration and Test facility will enable the Indian Army to access maintenance, spares and support for the M777 locally," says Dr Joe.
Reacting to the development, S P Shukla, Group President, Mahindra Defence and Aerospace said that both companies share the same values and common vision towards Make in India.
"BAE
Systems
is
one
of
the
largest
defence
companies
globally
and
we
could
not
have
a
better
partner.
M777
will
give
our
defence
forces
a
much
needed
operational
advantage
and
an
access
to
state
of
art
technology.
Mahindra
M777
facility
will
also
ensure
that
the
life
cycle
support
is
available
locally
thereby
enhancing
operational
availability
of
the
guns,"
Shukla
said.
BAE
System
said
that
in
2015,
the
Company
developed
and
submitted
a
US
government-supported
proposal
offering
a
higher
degree
of
indigenisation
on
the
M777
weapon
system.
It further said that the selection follows a detailed assessment of Mahindra's ability to fulfil the requirements and provide the best value to the M777 India programme, and in the future, grow its capability as a strategic partner for BAE Systems in India.
OneIndia News