In what comes as a significant boost to India's efforts to achieve self-reliance in defence, an Indian company, SFO Technologies, the flagship company of NeST Group, secured a contract from French aerospace major Thales to produce complex wired structures for the ‘RBE2’ radar system for Rafale fighter jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation for the Indian Navy.
The 'RBE2' active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar is an integral part of the Rafale jets. RBE2 AESA radar provides tactical situational awareness by enabling simultaneous, all-round detection and tracking of multiple air targets, both upwards and downwards. It is capable of close combat and long-range interception of sea or land targets in cluttered environments, under all weather conditions. Specifically designed for the Rafale, the radar incorporates a software architecture that allows it to evolve, anticipating new high-intensity challenges.
"Following the order of 26 Rafale aircraft for the Indian Navy, Thales, as a proud Dassault Aviation Rafale team member, continues to execute its ambitious localisation roadmap, partnering with the aeronautics and defence ecosystem in India," Thales said.
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The French company said the order marks an important milestone in Thales' Make in India initiative for the localisation of advanced radar systems. This is expected to boost local manufacturing capabilities for critical Rafale sub-systems supplied to the Indian Armed Forces, the company added.
It further said contract RBE2 AESA Radar of the Indian Rafale reinforces SFO Technologies' long-standing expertise and partnership with Thales across multiple major programmes.
The scope of expertise delivered through this partnership ranges from precision machining and assembly/wiring to electronics, microelectronics and complex system integration, the company said.
According to Thales, these components are designed to withstand demanding environmental conditions and form a critical part of the RBE2 radar, one of the Rafale’s core mission systems.
"This partnership with SFO Technologies reflects our steadfast commitment to the Make in India initiative," said Philippe Knoche, a senior Thales official, adding, "Through decades of strong local collaborations, we have consistently invested in building indigenous capabilities and fostering world-class expertise within the Indian ecosystem."
SFO Technologies offers total (Original Design Manufacturer) Plus solutions to different industries, including defence, aerospace, healthcare and transportation. The company has facilities in Kochi, Trivandrum, Bangalore, Mysuru and Pune in India.
