Defense cooperation is a key feature of Brazil and India’s strategic partnership. Brazil’s government has a Plan of Action for its engagement with India, which includes defence and security as key elements.
The world’s second-largest ammunition manufacturer, Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos (CBC), is already in India, collaborating with Stumpp Schuele & Somappa India (SSS Defence).
“Very few people know that CBC is the world’s second largest producer of ammunition,” Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago told. We welcome the partnership between Brazilian and Indian private enterprises, as we do other joint ventures, especially in a key area like defence.
The collaboration between CBC and SSS Defence has been going nicely. Production at the plant in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, is expected to start in mid-2022, according to my sources. The future looks bright, and the collaborative endeavour could be expanded as early as 2025.”
“Embraer, a Brazilian corporation, is the world’s third largest producer of passenger jets,” Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago remarked. Later this week, the business will attend WINGS INDIA 2022, Asia’s largest expo on Civil Aviation (Commercial, General, and Business Aviation) in Hyderabad.
“I am sure the corporation is anxious to investigate business potential in India,” says the Brazilian envoy, “since this country is the largest market for aeroplanes for the next decades.”
Manufacturing ammunition for various calibres such as 9 mm, 7.6239 mm, 7.6251 mm,.338 Lapua, and 12.7 mm is planned to begin soon under the joint venture of CBC and SSS. In addition, another Brazilian manufacturer, Taurus Armas S.A., has partnered with Jindal Defence to produce small guns.
Officers of the Brazilian Navy in India
Admiral Flávio Augusto Viana Rocha, Special Secretary (Strategic Affairs), Presidency & Advisor to the President of Brazil, led a three-member Brazilian mission to Western Naval Command Headquarters last week.
Admiral Rocha spoke with Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. The discussion centred on maritime concerns and mitigation techniques, as well as matters of mutual interest.
He invited the FOC-in-C (West) of the Brazilian Navy ships deployed in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to visit Indian ports, as well as the Indian Shipyards, which are well equipped to provide any technical support to units deployed away from home ports for longer periods of time.
During the conversations, he also brought up the Prime Minister’s goal of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Indian Navy’s marine vision.
More about the Action Plan
This was inked in 2020, as previously reported by Financial Express Online, during President Jair Bolsonaro’s visit to India as the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Celebrations. The country has also expressed interest in joining joint ventures in the defence sector, since such cooperation will aid in exporting to other countries.
Suresh K Reddy, India’s ambassador to Brazil, discussed the “Triple-Helix” technique in an earlier interview with Financial Express Online. This strategy is already in place in Brazil, with a concentration on R&D and innovation for all three services – Army, Navy, and Air Force.
There is plenty of room for both sides’ defence sectors to collaborate, not just in joint ventures, but also in technological partnerships.
So yet, only one Kanpur-based Indian firm, MKU, has a presence in Brazil. Many defence contracts have been completed with the Military Police, Army, and Federal Police. It has also been awarded a large contract to supply around 14,500 vests to the Policia Militar do Estado de Sao Paulo and the Brazilian Army – Night vision monocular.
At Wings India, Embraer will showcase its cutting-edge E195-E2 aircraft.
The E195-E2 (call sign PR-ZIQ), Embraer’s largest commercial aircraft, will be on display at Wings India 2022 as part of its demonstration trip around the country, according to the firm.
This aircraft, the E-Jets E2, is the largest member of the new generation E-Jets family, and will feature a beautiful ‘TechLion’ livery that spans the whole fuselage. Its characteristic two-by-two seating can accommodate up to 146 passengers.
“India’s aviation scene is at a turning point, and now is the moment for airlines to reposition themselves for sustainable growth,” says Raul Villaron, Asia Pacific Vice-President for Embraer Commercial Aviation.
According to him, the E195-E2 has a low cost per seat, making it a strong competitor in India for large narrow-body aircraft.
This aircraft is ideal for airlines who want to link to Tier-II and Tier-III destinations.