Reliance Defence to build R&D centre for aerospace industry in Bengaluru

Reliance Defence Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure Limited, will set up a global research centre for aerospace technology in Bengaluru.
 
“For India to emerge as a strong military power, it is important that we cut down our dependencies for military hardware. It is even more important that we start developing and designing the cutting edge systems. We are proposing to set up a Global Centre of Aerospace Excellence in Whitefield, Bengaluru. Given the emerging scenarios, where air power will play a decisive role in any conflict situation, aerospace technologies were the obvious choice for us,” said Anil Ambani, while speaking at the ‘Invest Karnataka 2016’ summit in Bengaluru on February 3, 2016.
   
The centre, the first-ever of its kind in the private sector in India, will conduct research, development and innovation in aerospace technology and is expected to generate more than 1500 highly skilled jobs.
 
Bengaluru has emerged as a hub for aerospace research program in India and is home to some of its leading scientific and defence institutions such as National Aerospace Lab, ISRO HQ & Satellite Centre, DRDO labs, Indian Institute of Science, etc.
 
“Aerospace industry has always taken the lead in the rapidly changing technology. While we are talking about fifth generation fighter aircraft, sixth generation technologies are already finding applications. The proposed centre, to be set up under the auspices of Reliance Defence, will drive Bengaluru’s emergence as a global destination in aerospace research and development,” added Ambani.
 
According to him, the venture will support the government’s plan to accord the Highest Priority for Indigenous Design, Development and Manufacturing (IDDM) for defence equipment.
 
Setting up of R&D centre is in line with Reliance Infrastructure’s strategy to focus on defence manufacturing, which it has identified as one of the main growth drivers for future. Driven by the government's Make in India initiative, the company expects to see good order flows in the defence sector.
 
To tap this opportunity, Reliance Infrastructure has invested over Rs 1,700 crore to acquire Pipavav Defence & Engineering. It is also investing Rs 150-200 crore to set up facilities on the lines of the Dhirubhai Ambani Aerospace Park in Mihan to manufacture aerospace equipment for both commercial and military applications.