India’s first private missile sub systems production facility inaugurated at Hyderabad

On August 3, 2017, India’s first private sector missile sub-systems manufacturing facility, a joint venture between the $2.5 billion Kalyani Group and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd., was inaugurated near Hyderabad, Telangana.

About Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS) plant:

KRAS is a 24,000-sq ft facility, located about 40 km from Hyderabad and is close to the new international airport.

• The project has been set up in a record time, and is considered first such facility which makes missile systems by a private player in India.
• This is in line with the Government’s Make in India initiative, where the joint venture will invest in high-end technology and advanced manufacturing techniques to design, develop and manufacture weapon systems for the Indian Armed Forces.
• Set with an initial outlay of about Rs. 70 crore, the facility may see additional investment as the product range goes up.
• The project is expected to create about 1,300 jobs both direct and indirect and will play a critical role in import substitution.
• To begin with, the Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS) plant will make anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) Spike and the production is expected to begin in a few weeks.
• Gradually it will develop a wide range of advanced capabilities like Command Control and Guidance, Electro-Optics, Remote Weapon Systems, Precision Guided Munitions and System Engineering for System Integration.
• After inaugurating the facility, Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, Minister for Industries, Commerce, and IT, Telangana, said that the State Government will extend all necessary support for further expansion plans.
• The facility is the culmination of a seven-year-long process, which began with India floating the Request for Interest and Rafael later joining hands with the Kalyani Group for the job.