Samtel Display Systems has strategic JVs in defence avionics with HAL and Thales. In an interview with SP’s Aviation, Puneet Kaura, Executive Director, Samtel Display Systems Limited, gave out details about Samtel’s role in the Mirage upgradation deal.

SP’s Aviation (SP’s): How would you describe the journey of Samtel from business of picture tubes for television market to the challenging defence electronics?

Puneet Kaura (Kaura): Samtel was set up in 1973 and is today the leading manufacturer of advanced displays in India. The journey from picture tubes to avionics started in 2001 with the takeover of Thales Germany by Samtel to form Samtel Electron Devices GmbH at Ulm, Germany. Later, in 2004, Samtel got its first order from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop multifunctional displays (MFDs)—the ones which are flying on Su-30MKIs today. That gave the impetus to Samtel to set up a defence avionics division—Samtel Display Systems in India. Today Samtel Display Systems has two strategic joint ventures (JVs) in defence avionics; one with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and another with Thales Avionics. There are also strategic tie-ups with global aviation majors such as SAAB and Honeywell.

SP’s: Can you briefly tell us about the milestones achieved by Samtel?

Kaura: The first milestone in our journey was about seven years back in 2004, when we signed our first memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), DRDO for indigenous co-development of ‘ruggedisation’ technology for multifunction displays. The next milestone was the JV with HAL signed in 2006, to address the avionics requirements for all HAL platforms. It was followed by a JV with Thales in 2008 to locally develop, customise, manufacture, sell and maintain indigenous helmet-mounted sight and display systems, infrared search and track (IRST) and modern avionics systems for the Indian and export defence markets. In 2010, when MFDs indigenously manufactured by the Samtel HAL JV were cleared for serial production from Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness for induction on Sukhoi 30MKI aircraft.

SP’s: Can you elaborate on the USPs of Samtel?

Kaura: Samtel has always been a technology focused company and we have achieved the singular status of being the only company in India which indigenously offers the complete package of LCD ruggedisation, electronic hardware designing, development of embedded systems along with associated software, mechanical packaging and thermal management under one roof. Our JV with HAL was India’s first public-private partnership in avionics domain in India, and has now achieved the unique position of having a primary cockpit display qualified for induction on Su-30MKI. We are now working towards building a centre of excellence for state-of-the-art cockpit displays which would help the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to become self-reliant in this domain.

SP’s: Are your offerings compatible with Russian platforms?

Kaura: The MFDs designed and produced by us have been qualified for induction on Su-30MKI aircraft. The next generation large size smart multifunction display is also ready, and has given us the unique distinction of being the only company in India to have an avionics display at par with the global suppliers in this domain. Discussions are on with some key customers on upcoming Russian platforms for LRUs, infrared search and track (IRST), and other avionics systems as well.

SP’s: Can you tell us about the Mirage fleet upgrade deal and particularly in view of the JV that seems to be in place between Thales and Samtel?

Kaura: The Indian Government has signed the deal worth $2.4 billion ( Rs. 10,800 crore) with Thales and Dassault Aviation for upgradation of its ageing Mirage fleet. As 30 per cent of the worth of the deal needs to be invested back into the Indian defence sector as offsets, a large part of the offsets should be expected to be fulfilled through us. As per the JV’s mandate, Samtel Thales Avionics will provide the basis for all future aerospace development for Thales in India.

SP’s: What challenges do you foresee in your journey?

Kaura: Challenges never end; they just get replaced by newer challenges. Ten years back when we took over Thales Germany and set our first footsteps in avionics, it was a new area for us. Conventionally, the cockpit displays were either imported or were assembled in India by suppliers using foreign-made components. There was a huge void and need for these products to be developed and produced in India indigenously. However, since the technology was never developed in India earlier, there was initial scepticism from the industry, which we believe, we have just not been able to overcome, but also surpass.

We now see ourselves moving ahead of cockpit displays and proving our capabilities in avionics. Our JV with Thales already encompasses manufacturing of HMSDs, which are a complete system in themselves; sensors such as IRST, which will be a first-time-in-India product and other modern avionics systems. Besides that, we are also setting up capabilities in obsolescence management, automated test equipment and built-to-print solutions. Going forward, our original strength—cockpit displays will be just one segment of our complete suite of offerings. From picture tubes to cockpit displays, and from here to a complete avionics house, is what I see Samtel emerging as.