M&M, Lockheed link up for defence sector offerings

Utility vehicles and tractor maker Mahindra & Mahindra, also a major defence supplier, has entered into an agreement with Lockheed Martin Information Systems of UK to jointly develop simulators for the Indian defence sector.

The UK firm is part of the US-based $25-billion Lockheed Martin Corporation, the global leader in design, development and manufacture of defence equipment. Lockheed Martin is a major supplier to the US-armed forces.

"Under the terms of the MoU, initially the Lockheed Martin's simulators will be marketed in India and later on manufacturing will commence here," Mahindra Defence Systems head K A Hai said.

The project will be implemented by Mahindra Defence Systems, a division of Mahindra & Mahindra, which was set up in 2000 to focus on developing products for the armed forces, para-military and the police.

"The synergy resulting from the alliance between M&M and Lockheed Martin in the areas of simulation and virtual reality (VR)-based training programmes is expected to lead to the offering of state-of-the art simulators for the armed forces, particularly to the Army," he added.

The division was formed to cater to defence requirements in the wake of the opening of the sector to private sector participation.

MDS has focused on military vehicles and IT-based solutions. It has come out with a number of variants in the light vehicles segment.

"The cost of training has shot up tremendously, along with the cost of equipment. In order to conserve equipment for actual hostilities, and also reduce training costs, armed forces all over the world are increasingly inducting simulators locally at reasonable cost. Our alliance is aimed at addressing this need," Hai added.