Larsen & Toubro and Bharat Electronics Limited announce pact for Indian Air Force's 5th-generation fighter aircraft programme

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has formed a strategic partnership with Defence public sector undertaking Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to support the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme of the Indian Air Force.

The BEL, in a statement on Wednesday, said the consortium will participate in the expression of interest notice issued by Government of India’s Aeronautical Development Agency.

A response would be submitted in the coming weeks, said BEL.

The partnership will leverage L&T’s expertise in developing strategic defence and aerospace platforms, along with BEL’s experience in defence electronics and systems, to jointly contribute to India’s 5th-generation fighter aircraft.

The collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing India’s Defence capabilities in line with the vision for self-reliant India.

In the past, L&T and BEL have played a pivotal role in India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft programme by supplying major aero-structure modules and developing mission-critical avionics and electronic systems. Building on this legacy, the consortium will bring proven expertise and commitment to timely delivery of world-class defence and aerospace platforms for the Indian Air Force.

SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman and Managing Director, L&T, said: “The collaboration with BEL marks a significant leap in our commitment to the modernisation of India's defence capabilities.”.

Manoj Jain, Chairman and  Managing Director, BEL, said, “The collaboration with L&T is a crucial step. With L&T’s engineering and systems integration capabilities and BEL’s expertise in Defence electronics, we are confident of delivering a world-class solution that will serve the Indian Air Force for decades to come.”

The Larsen & Toubro is a US $30 billion Indian multinational while BEL India’s Defence and strategic electronics sector company did sales of US $2.74 billion during the last fiscal.