Alpha Design inks pact with ISRO for satellites

Alpha Design, a Bengaluru based defence equipment maker today announced the signing of a contract with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for assembly, integration and testing of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System Satellites (IRNSS).
In the next two years, with the help of ISRO, Alpha Design Technologies Pvt Ltd (ADTL) will be investing in creating, an ultra-modern satellite manufacturing, assembly, integration, testing and qualification facilities, to independently supply four to five satellites to ISRO, the company said in a release here.
IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system being developed by India.
The city-based company, a manufacturer and technological services provider in India's defence and paramilitary markets, is known for its capabilities in delivering advanced defence electronics and aero structures, as well as R&D and manufacturing, Alpha said in a release.

Presently, the company is selecting 70 of their employees for them to be trained at ISRO for nine months during which the Alpha Design Technologies team would be assisted in on-job learning followed by actual assembly, integration and testing.
Speaking at the announcement, Colonel H S Shankar, Chairman and Managing Director, Alpha Design Technologies, said that as part of the contract, initially the company's teams would get minimum ISRO supervision and later would independently be making complete satellites.

On future prospective engagements with ISRO, Alpha expects to add more than 400 engineers, diploma holders and ITI qualified personnel to be part of Alpha Group, with annual turnover of Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore, it said.

The company had recently signed a multi-million dollar contract with Elbit Systems for manufacturing 600 VHF communication devices for exports and later for large-scale manufacture to cater for requirements of the Armoured Corps, it said.
The company has supplied defence electronics equipment worth more than USD 100 million in the past five years and holds a confirmed Order Book of more than USD 250 million for the next three years, it said.