Reliance firm ties up with Singapore's Augur in defence biz

Anil Ambani-led Reliance Unmanned Systems has signed a pact with Singapore-based Augur Overseas Operation to manufacture aerostats and airships in India.
Augur Overseas Operation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Augur Aeronautical Centre (AAC), a leading aerostat and airship designer, builder and supplier globally.
Augur Aeronautical Centre has already tied up with Pipavav Defence, a company acquired by Reliance Group.
"This is part of strategic technical partnership to collaborate on new technologies both for the civil and military market as part of 'Make in India' policy," a statement by the Reliance Group said.
Under the agreement, the two companies will form a joint venture company, with Reliance controlling 51 per cent stake, consistent with the current Government regulations.

The joint venture (JV) will be involved in development, production, sales, modification and life support for different sizes of aerostats, airships and lighter than air systems.

This JV will address the requirements of domestic market and also the regional and global markets.
As part of the existing arrangement, the first medium size Aerostat envelope was delivered recently, the statement said.
This was after successful acceptance tests were performed at Pipavav facilities.
The tests included integration and simulated mooring; verification of equipment and functioning of Aerostat envelope together with pressurisation system.
In the present changing security scenario in the Indian context, there is a constant need of monitoring as the country has almost 14,000 km long international border, including a nearly 7,500 km coast line.

Aerostat radars are a force multiplier as they are deployed extensively in the surveillance, reconnaissance and communication roles by the armed forces. These are also useful in detecting low-flying fighter aircraft.
As per the latest market research report, the aerostat market is projected to rise from Rs 25,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 65,000 crore by 2020, the statement said.