BAe-HAL software JV secures projects worth $40 million

The IT solutions joint venture between global major, BAe Systems, and Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), BAeHAL Software Ltd, has said it has finalized software projects to the tune of $40 million to be delivered by 2020. The JV was inked in 1993 and it has since developed software for aerospace & defence (A&D) companies.

BAeHAL Software Ltd has also delivered solutions for real-time projects, simulation, engineering services and software testing mostly to Indian firms in recent times and in the process has balanced out its clientele by increasing its focus on the growing local market. Initially, it had more overseas projects.

BAeHAL focuses on software development for A&D companies worldwide and has by now established a major presence in the UK, Germany, and France.

RN Prasad, group manager, said that the JV has major software projects in hand from all the three Indian defence services and has already developed avionics and flight simulators for MiG-21 aircraft as well as an inter-locking safety software system for the Indian Navy.

Prasad expects more opportunities to arise for the firm since total offshore engineering spending around the world is expected to grow to $225 billion by 2020.

Bangalore-based BAeHAL Software's international clients include Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Bombardier, British Airways and Thales, among others. Local firms include Tata Motors, state-owned Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

BAeHAL have also entered into a strategic alliance with the US-based Datastream Systems Inc, to market the latter's asset lifecycle management solutions to the defence, aerospace and aviation sectors in the Indian sub-continent.