BEL And Israel's IAI Form Joint Venture To Support India’s MRSAM Defence Systems

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna defence PSU, has partnered with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel's top aerospace and defence firm, to establish a joint venture company (JVC) under the name BEL IAI AeroSystems Private Ltd.

The joint venture company, with its registered office in Delhi, will serve as the single point of contact (SPOC) for extending long-term product support to the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) systems of India's defence forces, the Bengaluru-headquartered BEL said in a statement on Thursday (3 October).

"The partnership marks another significant step in cementing the relationship between the two companies that have a long history of association for strategic programmes. BEL and IAI are collaborating on several joint programmes for the Tri-services," it said.

According to BEL, the joint venture aims to provide life cycle support, both technical and maintenance related, for MRSAM air-defence systems of the country.

The MRSAM system is a state-of-the-art air and missile defence system that provides protection against a variety of aerial threats.

Jointly developed by IAI and DRDO, the MRSAM system is currently used by the Indian Air Force, Army, Navy, as well as Israel's defence forces.

The system features an Advanced Phased Array Radar, Command and Control shelter, mobile launchers, and interceptors with an advanced RF seeker.

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