Tata Power's strategic electronics division & thales announce the signing of MOU on Airborne optronics

Tata Power Company Ltd has announced that Tata Power's Strategic Electronics Division (SED) and Thales on February 18, 2008 announced the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding in the area of optronics.

Through this Memorandum of Understanding, Tata Power SED and Thales agree to cooperate in order to offer optronics solutions for Indian defence market such as the MMRCA programme and further programs on existing or future airborne platforms. This agreement will allow both Companies to develop transfer of technologies in order to implement local contents and meet the Offset requirements of Indian MOD.

The growing importance of imagery in decision-making processes has made optronics a vital component of all defense and security systems. On land, at sea or in the air, in peacetime, crisis or war, Thales optronics technologies offer unparalleled day / night detection, reconnaissance, target identification and weapon guidance capabilities while guaranteeing complete discretion.

Thales offer particularly includes the Damocles pod that enables the use of guided weapons either alone or as part of a cooperative deployment, and the Areos air reconnaissance system. The Areos pod is an airborne reconnaissance electro optical system for tactical and strategic missions. Thales solutions are fully compatible with many platforms including French and Russian airplanes.

Rahul Chaudhry, Chief Executive Officer of Tata Power SED, noted that "Large defence program like MMRCA with Offsets have created opportunities for Indian Companies with Defense Systems experience. Tate Power SED will leverage this partnership with Thales, a world leader in Defence Systems, to serve our customers better."