Tata Power Company's Rs65 crore Strategic Electronics Division (SED), which designs software for India's defence systems, is already gearing itself towards achieving a ten-fold growth. The company is also looking at inorganic growth in the global defence software design sub-contracting business.

The division, which began as an R&D unit of the company, has worked on electronics and software development programmes for large projects of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) since 1967. Its important recent contributions include software systems for the multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka, surface-to-air missile Aakash and electronic warfare systems Sanjukta. The division has received an RFQ for production of multi-rocket launcher systems.

SED is already into the development of rugged PCs, servo-controlled platforms and other special applications, fire control computers, electronic warfare control systems and combat systems for the navy. Anticipating a further rise in demand from the Indian Army, Tata Power is planning new systems, including command and control, communications and computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, battle tank electronics, artillery upgrades, avionics and unmanned aerial vehicles, display systems, embedded systems and simulators.

Tata Power makes electronics systems and electrical sub-systems at its Bangalore facility. The company's impressive facilities include test simulators, environmental test facilities — including hot / cold chambers and vibration tables as well as a comprehensive EMI / EMC test facility.

An ISO 9001/2000-certified company, Tata Power has considerable experience in technology absorption and collaboration with DRDO labs such as DEAL, DLRL, DRDL, NPOL, ADE, LRDE and DARE. It also meets DGQA, DQAN, MSQAA and DGAQA inspection standards.

 

SED has strategic alliances with established and reputed production partners, such as TAL, TAM and the Godrej Group for the fabrication of mechanical structures and mechanisms, and with WIPRO and OTPL for hydraulic sub-systems. It also has alliances with a host of specialist vendors / consultants for cable harnesses, EMI gaskets, FEM analysis and heat treatment.

 

For the Indian Army's electronic warfare programme it has developed a shelter equipped with computers, display consoles, power conditioning racks and network routers as well as rugged computers for tracked / wheeled vehicles. It has also developed 10.4" / 15" rugged LCDs with single / dual screen configurations.