Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to form a joint venture to provide long-term product support services to the Indian Defence Forces through a single point of contact.

Union Minister of State announced Defence Ajay Bhat at the ongoing biennial air show and aviation exhibition Aero India 2023 at Yelahanka Air Force Station here, a BEL statement said.

The company said the collaboration is essential in cementing the relationship between the two companies with a long history of cooperation.

BEL, a leading defence electronics and systems manufacturer ‘Navratna’ company, and IAI, a top Israeli aerospace and defence company, are working on several joint projects for the Indian Armed Forces.

A new joint venture is being established to provide lifecycle support for the country’s MRSAM (Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile) air defence system. It will be headquartered in New Delhi and provide the required technical and maintenance support to the armed forces.

MRSAM is an advanced air and missile defence system that can protect various air platforms, the statement said. The Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy and Israeli Defence Forces use it.

The system includes an advanced phased array radar, command and control bunkers, mobile launchers and interceptors with advanced radio frequency seekers. IAI and DRDO jointly developed MRSAM in collaboration with India and Israel for the Indian Defence Forces.

Through this joint venture, IAI reaffirms its support for the Government of India’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India). It is also a big testament to the company’s commitment to a strong partnership with DRDO to develop and support advanced systems for the Indian Armed Forces, the statement read, adding that the collaboration will leverage the synergy of IAI and BEL.

“Israel is an important strategic partner of India, and the successful development and deployment of the MRSAM system for the Indian Defence Forces is a shining example of successful cooperation between the two countries,” Bhatt said.

The minister added that the joint venture between two prominent Indian and Israeli companies would undoubtedly play an important role in providing product support services for the MRSAM system as a single point of contact. Bhat said this would be the impetus for the “Make in India” policy.