Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL)-Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) plans to set up ₹100- crore defence innovation fund.

Speaking after inaugurating the 11th edition of Aero India 2017, earlier in the day, Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar announced that the two Bengaluru-based public sector companies – BEL and HAL — will together contribute initially to the innovation and technology fund.

The main objective of the fund is to promote start-ups in the defence sector. When this is set up, the defence PSUs will also be encouraged to take up greater outsourcing from the private sector besides vendor development.

Explaining the contours of the defence innovation fund, MV Gowtama, Chairman and Managing Director, BEL, told BusinessLine that “it will be a 50:50 joint organisation under Section 8 of the Companies Act.”

HAL-BEL plans to set up the organisation with a focus on identifying and developing innovative products for the defence sector. The company or organisation will be aided and advised by a knowledge partner to handhold BEL-HAL in identifying start-ups or innovation that suits the country’s defence needs. The knowledge partner will be working along on honorary basis.

BEL has unveiled a new Weapon Control system — Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS)/Air Defence Weapon Station (ADWS) for 12.7-mm Gun of MBT Arjun Mk II battle tank.

Gowtama said the RCWS is an improvised version of the manually operated air defence gun. It enables the soldier to aim and fire at aerial targets from the safe interiors of the battle tank.

Presently, the 12.7-mm guns of all tanks are manually operated. RCWS integrated on MBT Mk II has successfully completed tank integration and firing trials in September 2015. RCWS has also been developed for use in Armed Repair and Recovery Vehicle.

It can also be mounted on hovercraft / fast moving boats for the Coast Guard.

The features of RCWS include: remote firing option; automatic cocking; DSP-based brushless drive technology; 2 Axis self-stabilised platform; day camera and night vision; automated FCS & ballistics corrections; and automatic target tracking.