Chenai (India) based Ashok Leyland Defence Systems Ltd. and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG from Munich (Germany) have concluded Memorandum of Understanding during the IDEX defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi today to co-operate in the development of advanced defence systems for the Indian Defence establishment as well as other defence forces worldwide.

The scope of the co-operation will initially include the development of artillery systems, combat systems, armoured wheeled vehicles, recovery vehicles, bridge laying systems and other similar products.

Ashok Leyland Defence Systems (ALDS), a newly formed company in which the Hinduja flagship, Ashok Leyland, has 26% equity, brings to this strategic alliance the expertise and experience of designing and developing Defence vehicles that has made Ashok Leyland the largest supplier of logistics to the Indian Army with over 60,000 of its Stallion vehicles forming the Army’s veritable logistics backbone.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) will provide the technology and the technical assistance that will be required for the development of these defence systems. A 170-year-old company, KMW leads the market for highly protected armoured wheeled and tracked vehicles. The armed forces of over 30 nations worldwide rely on their systems such as the MBT LEOPARD 2, the artillery system PzH 2000 or the highly protected DINGO 2.

Dr. V. Sumantran, Chairman, Ashok Leyland Defence Systems: “This strategic partnership seeks to harness the formidable skills of both companies, namely, the technological bandwidth of KMW and our approach to innovations aimed at cost advantage. For ALDS, this brings a new range of product opportunities with which we hope to fulfill India’s growing Defence needs and over time to address select overseas markets.”

Frank Haun, CEO & President, KMW: “The partnership with ALDS is a further consequent step in KMW’s strategy to internationalize its business. Along with ALDS we are now able to jointly develop future Indian defence solutions based on our proven and worldwide leading technologies.”

About Ashok Leyland Defence Systems – ALDS, the Defence sector affiliate of the Hinduja flagship Ashok Leyland, leverages the 63 year heritage of Ashok Leyland built upon a range of products and services that have been the mainstay not only of ground mobility in India, but also importantly India’s defence logistics vehicles. ALDS has embarked on a range of new developments covering the domains of Defence logistics vehicles, tactical vehicles, Defence communication systems, etc.

KMW
23.02.2011