Tata in JV with Israeli firm for defence aerospace unit

The Tata group, which is setting up a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter cabin manufacturing plant at the Aerospace and Precision Engineering Special Economic Zone at Adibatla near here, has formed a joint venture with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for setting up defence aerospace manufacturing facilities in the same SEZ.

The JV — Nova Integrated Systems (NIS) Limited — would design, manufacture and integrate advanced defence and aerospace systems with transfer of technology from IAI. The project would see an initial foreign direct investment of $50 million (about Rs 250 crore).

“We will provide direct employment to about 900 people,” said NIS chief executive officer and managing director Ajith Bhavnani. The state government has allotted 50 acre for the purpose.

Meanwhile, on Thursday chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy unveiled the plaque of Sikorsky S-92 helicopter cabin manufacturing plant of Tata Advanced Systems Limited, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Tata Sons.

TASL chief executive officer Davinder Kumar said the helicopter fuselage assembling unit would be commissioned by 2010 end. The Sikorsky S-92 is a four-blade twin-engine medium-lift helicopter for civil operations and uses advanced helicopter technology. TASL would invest Rs 1,000 crore in the project.