Reliance Defence inks strategic pact with UAE-based Emirates Defence Industries

Reliance Defence Limited (RDL), a fully owned subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra), has entered into a strategic agreement with the UAE-based Emirates Defence Industries Co (EDIC) to jointly explore the opportunity for manufacturing and building capabilities in defense vehicles, aviation and associated areas, defence equipment and armament manufacturing, defence electronics, commercial and naval ships, MRO of military equipment/platforms.
 
The partnership will explore the opportunity in the UAE defense industry which has many capital expenditures but the costs for setting up facilities, recruiting and developing scientists and engineers are high. The partnership will aim at bring synergy to bring down operational costs and leverage each others’ capabilities.
   
Reliance Defence Limited has 11 subsidiaries in niche segments of defence sector. In the defence and aerospace segment, RDL is pursuing partnerships with the leading international OEM's; equity stake in existing companies within the country as also globally to meet home grown solutions for the defence sector.
 
EDIC is the premier integrated national defence services and manufacturing platform from the UAE, providing world-class facilities, technology and support. As part of the mandate of EDIC, EDIC is in the process of finalising the acquisition of Tawazun-owned pistol and rifle maker Caracal, light munitions maker Caracal Light Ammunition, and ammunition systems company Burkan, Mubadala's unmanned systems developer Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investment (ADASI) and AMMROC, the advanced military maintenance, repair and overhaul center, which is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky and Mubadala with EDIC taking over Mubadala's share. These five firms are in addition to the 11 companies that EDIC is integrating under the first phase.