Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence, and Centum Electronics Limited (CENTUM), a global provider of Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) solutions, have signed an MoU to jointly design, develop and manufacture advanced defence electronic modules, subsystems and systems. The collaboration will focus on Electronic Warfare (EW), radar systems, and secure military communication systems, strengthening India’s indigenous defence electronics ecosystem and aligning with the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
Key Highlights
- Partnership domains:
- Electronic Warfare (EW) systems
- Radar systems
- Secure military communication systems
- Objective: To leverage BEL’s expertise in large-scale defence production and Centum’s strength in advanced ESDM to build indigenous, cutting-edge solutions for the Indian Armed Forces and allied defence markets.
- Strategic Significance:
- Promotes indigenous design & manufacturing capabilities.
- Reduces reliance on imports for critical defence technologies.
- Boosts India’s defence exports and enhances global competitiveness.
About Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
- Type: Navratna PSU under Ministry of Defence.
- Portfolio: 600+ products across:
- Radars, Fire Control & Weapon Systems
- Communication & Network-Centric Systems
- Naval Systems, EW & Avionics
- Homeland Security, Tank Electronics, Anti-Submarine Warfare
- Civilian and strategic electronics
- Diversification Areas: Civil Aviation, Unmanned Systems, Cybersecurity, Smart Cities, Space Electronics, Arms & Ammunition, AI, and Medical Electronics.
- Certifications: CMMI Level 5, ISO AS-9100, ISO 27001:2013 (ISMS).
- Role: A leading defence electronics integrator & exporter.
About Centum Electronics Limited
- Founded: 1994 | HQ: Bangalore, India
- Operations: Global presence in India, North America, EMEA; exports to 20+ countries.
- Specialisation: Electronic System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM).
- Key Contributions:
- Supplied mission-critical electronics to almost all ISRO satellite missions, including Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan.
- Supplies 300–500 components per Indian space mission.
- Clients include ISRO, DRDO, BEL, ABB, Thales, RAFAEL.
- Supports aerospace, defence, space, industrial and medical sectors.
- Facilities: Multiple across Bangalore, Paris, Toulouse, Lyon, Brussels, Montreal.
- Capabilities: End-to-end lifecycle – design, engineering, embedded software, hardware, testing, and volume production.
Significance
- Strengthens self-reliance in defence technology (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
- Enhances India’s indigenous capabilities in EW, radars, and secure communications – critical for modern warfare.
- Expands India’s global footprint in defence exports and South-South cooperation.
- Complements India’s strategic focus on becoming a hub for defence manufacturing and advanced electronics.