MKU, Shvabe JV To Set Up Electro-optical Device Production Facility In India

Indian MKU and Russian JSC Shvabe signed MoU to manufacture Electro Optical Devices in India, with production facility to be situated in Kanpur.

“As per the MOU Shvabe will train and assist in setting up of EO manufacturing and servicing unit in India with MKU. Training initially will be given to technical persons from MKU to carry out maintenance and repair of the in-service EO units, which will give a kick start to the JV and later graduating to a full-fledged manufacturing unit by mid of 2017,” MKU said in a statement Tuesday.

This JV is not focused only on manufacturing of electro optical devices but also to cater in-service EO equipment with the Indian Army and MoD. Electro-optical devices from Shvabe are in use by the Indian army for some time now and many of these devices require upgradation, refurbishment and maintenance to keep up with the changing combat theatres and its intense requirements.

Specifically, devices on platforms require mission specific upgradation and maintenance. With, emphasis on upgradation in terms of systems and fighting capabilities a lot of stress is on mechanization of the infantry and off-course airborne and naval platforms too are in focus.

New acquisition of platform systems shall certainly give birth to requirements of equally modern EO equipment for the mechanized contingent too, which translates to revenue streams from this less known domain for MKU as well as Schvabe.