By TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG- INDIA’S Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL’s) Avionics Division will deliver transfer of technology (ToT) to South Africa’s Saab Grintek
Defence (SGD).
This follows a contract valued at ZAR112 million (USD8.5 million), confirmed on Friday.
The agreement will see the transfer of technology for in-country maintenance of Saab’s Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS) system in India. 
IDAS has been selected as the electronic warfare (EW) self-protection system for Indian Air Force and Indian Army Aviation Corps variants of the HAL Dhruv Advanced
Light Helicopter. 
The maintenance ToT provides for the supply and commissioning of test infrastructure at HAL Hyderabad along with documentation and training of HAL personnel in
Centurion, South Africa, and Hyderabad. 
 “The export of this technology to India bodes well for future manufacturing and skills transfers, and for building an ongoing mutually beneficial partnership in
line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative,” said Trevor Raman, President and CEO of Saab Grintek Defence.
 The ToT programme will run for 24 months and will qualify HAL Hyderabad as a Saab-approved IDAS repair facility. HAL will focus on maintenance and repair of
IDAS equipment for the Indian end-users. Saab will continue to support HAL Hyderabad with critical spares and proprietary components for the entire service
life of IDAS.
 The contract follows a long term business agreement signed by SGD and HAL in 2005.
– CAJ News