Adani Defence showcases a wide range of products at the ongoing airshow, ranging from drones and missiles to an upgrade for the army’s BMP-II infantry vehicle and its military MRO solutions.
The defence subsidiary of the Adani Group appears to have not been rocked by the troubles that have recently impacted the group as a whole.
It also appears to be because Adani Defence has acquired an already established defence business with a strong presence in the market as part of its aggressive foray into the defence business. Adani Defence companies include Alpha Design Technologies (ADTL), Comprotech, AutoTech, and Alpha Tocol. Adani Defence acquired ADTL in December 2021.
The Adani group has made dramatic inroads into the Indian defence sector over the last five years after it began its partnership with Saab in August 2017 to build locally, via a transfer of technology, the Gripen fighter jet. Saab is offering the Gripen for an air force requirement for 114 fighter jets, but the MoU with Adani Defence has now been dissolved.
Adani Defence acquired Air Works, India's biggest independent MRO provider, at an enterprise value of INR 400 crore in October 2022. Air Works handles some MRO activities for navy P-8I and air force 737 VVIP aircraft. The acquisition of Air Works provides Adani Defence with a sustainable long-term business in military aircraft overhaul and repair.
On the sidelines of DefExpo 2020, Adani-Elbit Joint Venture (JV) announced that it would export hundreds of Mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to a global customer from its Hyderabad facility. Adani-Elbit would complete platform production and integration of various systems and sensors. It is also setting up a Design and Development centre focusing on co-developing defence technologies aligned with global requirements.
The two companies came together in February 2020 when they announced their JV to set up a private UAV manufacturing complex at Adani Aerospace Park in Hyderabad to indigenise unmanned aerial platforms. It is the Hermes 900 production facility outside Israel and has also started exporting UAVs. Hermes 900 is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance drone with an endurance of 36 hours and a payload capacity of 420 kg. It can operate at altitudes of over 32,000 feet.
Adani Defence acquired a 51% stake in Gwalior-based PLR Systems in an all-cash transaction in September 2020. PLR has a State-of-the-Art Small Arms manufacturing facility at Malanpur Industrial Area, Gwalior, MP and was the first private sector company granted a license by the Government of India for manufacturing small arms and ammunition.
PLR Systems is a Joint Venture between Adani Group and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), manufacturing world-class small arms in India. IWI weapons like TAVOR Assault Rifle, X95 Assault Rifle, GALIL Sniper Rifle, NEGEV Light Machine Gun and UZI Sub Machine Gun are already in service with the Indian Armed Forces, CAPFs (CRPF/ BSF/ SFF) and State Police Forces.
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Adani Defence Systems Acquires Air Works