Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) and Cyient DLM have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint venture in India for the design and manufacture of electronics used aboard Indian Navy warships. The proposed partnership is intended to increase Indian content in vessels built by the defence public sector shipyard and reduce reliance on overseas suppliers.
The agreement covers a range of systems required for navigation, communications, maritime surveillance and fleet operations. The companies said the arrangement would support the development of domestic technology and manufacturing capabilities for the naval and maritime sectors. The systems identified under the MoU include:
| System area | Equipment listed under the MoU |
|---|---|
| Navigation and ship control | Navigation systems, autopilots and Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems |
| Surveillance and communications | Solid-state radars, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System and Fleet Broadband |
| Ship support | Voyage Data Recorders, weather reports and helicopter landing aids |
Joint design and qualification planned
Under the proposed plan, HSL and Cyient DLM will first identify the systems that require priority attention and form joint teams to design and test them. The equipment will then have to secure naval and classification qualifications before installation on selected platforms. The starting point for fitting the systems will be ships built by HSL, although the announcement does not identify the platforms involved or provide a timeline for installation.
The partnership is aimed not only at producing equipment but also at creating a domestic support chain around naval electronics. HSL and Cyient DLM said the arrangement could help accelerate procurement, strengthen Indian suppliers, reduce life-cycle costs and improve the time required for maintenance and refit work. Indian micro, small and medium enterprises and deep-tech companies supplying components to the defence and maritime sectors could also gain opportunities, according to the companies.
“This is Aatmanirbhar Bharat, moving ahead with determination,” said Rear Admiral C Raghuram (Retd), HSL Chairman and Managing Director.
Raghuram said the agreement would bring more homegrown technology to ships built by HSL. His remarks specifically referred to Indian-built radar intelligence, navigational aids and radio systems as part of the intended technology base for the yard’s vessels.
Rajendra Velagapudi, Managing Director and CEO of Cyient DLM, said: “The partnership will help India build its technology and manufacturing base in the maritime and defence sectors.” The statement places the proposed venture within India’s wider effort to expand domestic capability in equipment fitted to warships, rather than limiting indigenisation to the construction of hulls.
Electronics remain a key part of warship construction
Indian shipyards have increased their warship-building activity in recent years, but HSL and Cyient DLM said a substantial share of the advanced equipment installed inside those hulls continues to be imported. The proposed venture is intended to address that gap through Indian design, testing, qualification and manufacture of selected naval systems.
The MoU is a framework for cooperation and does not itself announce a confirmed production order, equipment quantity, contract value or delivery schedule. The next stated stages are the selection of priority systems, joint development and testing, followed by the qualification process required before equipment can be installed on selected ships.
