Bengaluru : In a significant move towards strengthening India’s self-reliance in space and defence technology, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence PSU, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Space Applications Centre (SAC) of ISRO, Ahmedabad. The MoU aims to indigenise and develop infrastructure for the production of space-grade Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs) within India. The collaboration will not only advance domestic capabilities but also contribute to significant foreign exchange savings.
The agreement was formalised at SAC Ahmedabad, with Mr. Nilesh M Desai, Director of SAC, and Mrs. Niti Pandit, General Manager (Strategic Planning), BEL Corporate Office, signing the MoU in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.
TWTAs, a complex and cutting-edge technology, involve the controlled interaction of microwaves with electron beams under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. These devices are essential components of satellite communication and navigation payloads, microwave remote sensing radar, scientific missions, and inter-spacecraft communication systems. BEL has already established a state-of-the-art facility for the fabrication and manufacturing of TWTAs, enabling the company to play a crucial role in the country’s space technology ecosystem.
The TWTAs, developed by SAC and manufactured by BEL, will be deployed in a variety of satellite payloads, including those used for communication, navigation, and microwave remote sensing. This collaboration is a critical step in boosting India’s indigenisation efforts in the space sector, aligning with the government’s vision of reducing dependence on foreign technology.
SAC, as a premier research and development centre of ISRO, has been at the forefront of developing advanced space-borne payloads for communication, optical and microwave remote sensing satellites, and navigation systems. These technologies are key to various national missions that span areas such as communication, land resources management, meteorology, disaster management, and environmental monitoring.
In addition to its contributions to space-borne technology, SAC is also involved in the design and development of ground segment hardware, mathematical models, algorithms, and software for a wide range of applications. These include communications, navigation, oceanography, and space sciences, all of which are vital to India’s space missions aimed at national growth and development.
This MoU marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between BEL and SAC, as it reflects the country’s ongoing efforts to achieve self-reliance in high-tech space and defence technologies. By combining BEL’s manufacturing capabilities with SAC’s research expertise, the partnership is poised to further strengthen India’s position in the global space industry.
