Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS), a Joint Venture between Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd. and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. of Israel, inaugurated its state-of-the-art facility at Hyderabad.

In line with the Government's "Make in India" initiative, the Joint Venture will invest in high-end technology and advanced manufacturing techniques to design, develop and manufacture state-of-the-art weapon systems for the Indian Armed Forces. This green field Joint Venture envisages creation of significant direct and indirect employment opportunities, import substitution and foreign direct investments into the country.

KRAS would be India's first private sector advanced defence sub-systems manufacturing entity. Spread across an area of 24,000 sq.ft., the facility will enable production of high-end technology systems for Indian Armed Forces. It will be engaged in development of 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. The facility will also target to export products to other countries.

During the inauguration ceremony, Maj Gen (Ret) Yoav Har-Even, President & CEO, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. said: "Rafael has been increasingly looking at cooperation with India in the Defence and Aerospace arena. We are confident and eager to be a strategic partner in addressing India's Defence modernisation needs. We have, without any hesitations, offered and provide our most advanced Defence Systems to India, with the willingness to transfer technology.

"Strategic cooperation between our two nations received a huge boost with the path breaking visit of PM Modi to Israel last month. Rafael is committed to ‘Make in India' and this JV is a step in the same direction. The establishment of this facility is a sign of our commitment to ‘walk the talk', in terms of partnering with Indian industry towards indigenous manufacture."

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