BEL inks pact with SAC-ISRO to Boost indigenisation of Space and Defence Production

By R Anil Kumar

• Defence Public Sector Undertaking, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed an MOU, with ISRO’S SAC to produce Space Grade Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs) domestically, aiming to boost indigenisation in Space and Defence sectors and save foreign exchange.

Bengaluru, October 2. Navarathna Defence Public Sector undertaking (PSU), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with ISRO’s Space Application Centre (SAC), to Collaborate, Indigenise and Develop Infrastructure for manufacturing Space-grade Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs) in India.

The BEL in a Statement said that the MOU signed would boost indigenisation of Space and Defence Production, thereby helping save foreign exchange of the country.

TWTA is a complex multi-disciplinary technology involving controlled interaction of microwave with electron beam under ultra-high vaccum conditions. State-of-the-art fabrication and manufacturing facility for TWTAs  has been established at BEL, the Defence PSU, said.

TWTAs Developed by SAC-ISRO and manufactured by BEL will be used in Satellite communication and navigation payloads, microwave remote sensing radar payloads, scientific missions or probes and inter-spacecraft communication links.

These items are integral parts of various communication and microwave remote sensing payloads, the Statement said.

About BEL:

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is a Defence Navarathna aerospace and defence PSU. It Primarily manufactures advanced electronic products for ground and aerospace applications.

The company with a revenue of Rs 19,820 crore(US$ 2.4 Billion) with an operating income of Rs. 4998 crores (US$ 600 million) and Net Income of Rs 4020 Crores (US$ 480 million) has a total assets worth Rs 39,526 Crores (US$ 4.7 Billion)and with a Total equity of Rs.16,344 crores (US$ 2 billion) in 2024, manufactures Defence products-Avionics, Radars, Weapon systems and so on. It is presently headed by Mr. Manoj Jain as its Chairman and Managing Director.

About Space Application Centre (SAC):

Space Application Centre (SAC) is an Institution of Research, under the aegis of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), based in Ahmedabad.

It is one of the major Centres of ISRO, engaged in Research, Development and  Demonstration of Applications of Space technology, in the field of Telecommunications, Remote sensing, Meteorology and Satellite Navigation.

This includes Research and. Development of on- board systems, ground systems and end user equipment hardware and software.

SAC presently has 3 campuses, two of which are located at Ahmedabad and one at Delhi. The Current Director of SAC is Mr.  Nilesh M. Desai, and Chairman of ISRO and Secretary Department of Space is Mr. S Somanath.