Tata Sons arm to acquire majority stake in Tejas Networks
In a first for the private sector, Tata Group may develop and manufacture a full military-grade aircraft. The conglomerate has acquired intellectual property (IP) rights for a German-origin platform. The plan is to integrate indigenous sensors and payloads to convert it into an intelligence-gathering asset, the report said. Such aircraft are typically developed and manufactured by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
The high-altitude, twin-engine aircraft can be used to gather signal intelligence and cross-border surveillance.The aircraft, which is in the final stages of testing in Germany, is expected to arrive in India in the next three months for further integration, the report added.
"We are now focusing on modifying the aircraft to fit special payloads so that it can undertake a demonstration of surveillance capabilities," Sukaran Singh, Managing Director of TASL said. "For a country like India, with multiple mountain ranges spread across the country, including on international borders, this capacity is extremely vital. India has been dependent on foreign suppliers to meet this need."
