BEL signs MoU with IAI for LORA Weapon System

Bengaluru: At Aero India 2023, the biennial air show and aviation exhibition being held at Yelahanka Air Force Station, Bengaluru, Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has signed an MoU with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for domestic manufacture and supply of its LORA Weapon System for the Indian Tri-services.

The state-of-the-art strategic weapon system weapon will be manufactured by BEL, as the prime contractor, based on the workshare arrangement with IAI.

The MoU is an outcome of the growing partnership between India and Israel in the field of high technology strategic defence systems, and is in line with the Government of India’s Make in India initiative for major weapon systems.

Developed by IAI’s MALAM division, LORA is a sea-to-ground and ground-to-ground system which comprises a long-range ballistic missile, a unique launcher, a command and control system, and a ground/marine support system. The LORA system provides ballistic assault capabilities for multiple ranges with a precision level of 10 meters CEP.

About IAI

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Ltd is Israel’s largest aerospace and defence company and a globally recognised technology and innovation leader specialising in developing and manufacturing advanced, state-of-the-art systems for air, space, sea, land, cyber and homeland security. Since 1953, the company has provided advanced technology solutions to government and commercial customers worldwide: including satellites, missiles, weapon systems and munitions, unmanned and robotic systems, radars, C4ISR and more.  IAI also designs and manufactures business jets.

LORA was developed at IAI’s Systems, Missiles & Space Group. The group boasts of a long record in air-defence systems, such as the Arrow 2 and 3, the Barak 8, loitering missiles, and countless missile and satellite systems, such as observation satellites, nano-satellites, communication satellites (including Dror, the national communication satellite). The group has also co-built the Beresheet spacecraft which traveled to the moon on its first mission. IAI is a national and global technological hub for air defense, radars, satellites, unmanned vehicles, civilian aviation, and cyber.

About BEL

Navratna PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) was established in 1954 under the Ministry of Defence, GoI, with a farsighted vision to make the country self-reliant in Defence electronics. Today, BEL is a multi-product, multi-technology, multi-Unit conglomerate which designs, manufactures and supplies state-of-the-art products and systems in a wide variety of fields including Radars, Missile Systems, Military Communications, Naval Systems, Electronic Warfare & Avionics, C4I Systems, Electro Optics, Tank Electronics & Gun/Weapon System Upgrades, and Electronic Fuzes in the Defence segment.
 
BEL’s non-Defence business segment includes areas such as Electronic Voting Machines, Homeland Security & Smart Cities, Satellite Integration & Space Electronics, Railways, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Software as a Service, Energy Storage Products, besides Composite Shelters & Masts. BEL is fast expanding its global presence, putting its best foot forward to give a thrust to exports worldwide. All-out efforts are being made to tap new markets across the globe, including the Indian Ocean Region and friendly foreign countries.

Be it the efforts that the Company has been putting in to engage in collaborative R&D in addition to augmenting its own R&D set up, its recent attempts to outsource work to Indian private industries and MSMEs, or the path breaking decision to go in for Public-Private partnerships to execute turnkey projects, BEL is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that it is in sync with the Government’s larger goal of indigenisation and self-reliance. 

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