Aerospace Diary

Posted by Neelam Mathews Oct 21, 2013 We have been requested by the World IPR Bank that provides core services in the area of Transfer Of Technology and Intellectual Property, to inform our readers on their upcoming training program. Pl check www.wiprbank.com for more. Date: Tuesday October 29, 2013  Time: 9.30 to 5.30 pm  Venue: Royal Orchid Hotel, Old  Airport Road Bangalore  Training Overview  includes: • Basic awareness program on IPRs in Technology Domains  • Understanding the interrelation of TOT portfolios and IPRs • Understanding IPR processes required for TOT and IPR creation, acquisition and  reverse innovation  • Global Best Practices on Transfer of Technology and IPRs: Internal and External  processes. Preparing decision makers in managing negotiations with their JV  partners to optimally manage technology transfers, time and costs  • Overview and lessons learnt from Transfer Of Technology regimes of ...

Neelam Mathews March 25, 2013 IPR and TOT remain  fragile  and not fully- understood subjects in  aerospace offsets. A  Training and  Certification  Program  on Transfer of  Technology and  Intellectual  Property Rights  in Aviation and Aerospace Industry   on Monday, 22 nd  April, is being  held in New Delhi  to address i ssues plaguing  the industry. Ajay Batra, M anaging Partner and CEO of  World Intellectual Property Rights Bank  asked me  to share this with those interested. ( +919910863666 ).  The full day- workshop will cover the  interrelation of TOT portfolios and IPRs.  And, also why it  is it important to have a demonstrable IPR capability and maturity in  aerospace companies. A session on  Management of IPRs in  TOT programs  will include a b asic awareness program on IPRs in Aviation and Aerospace...

DH- Nov 2012 While India has acknowledged it needs to move rapidly to replace its elderly service helicopter fleets, government red tape and protests by losing bidders are holding up acquisition efforts, reports  Neelam Mathews. India’s plans for modernising its military aviation capabilities, including big-ticket deals such as the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft requirement for 126 jets, also have a substantial rotarywing component, with the objective being to induct more than 900 helicopters within the next decade. Demand for civil and military rotorcraft in India is projected to increase by an average of 6% annually, with a number of separate purchases being planned by the military, which recognises that acquisition needs to be done at a fast pace to replace a rapidly ageing fleet. The purchase of an RSH has been deferred by the Indian government, much to the fru...

Neelam Mathews Sept 5, 2012 An RFP for a tender for manufacturing replacement of 56 Avros, is expected to be out within the next three months. The bidders will be given five months to respond to the tender, Aerospace Diary learns. No public sector undertaking will be allowed to participate in this tender. The foreign OEM will select a partner in India and the TOT will be his responsibility. On Oct 5 last year, Aerospace Diary had filed a report in which IAF Chief NAK Browne had dared the Indian industry to put its money where its mouth is by getting involved in the indigenization program to replace its ageing Avros. The question now is- who will take the bait? Will the 26% FDI be a dampener? Will the limited number required be enough for the industry to set up its facility? Are tier two and three suppliers in the country ready to take on the challenge? The first 16 aircraft will be bought in a fly away condition, while the rest are to be developed in India. The...

By- John Williams Williams Global Advisors 1.      Objectives of the Offset Policy have been clarified.  The objectives are: a.      Development of globally competitive industries b.      Enhancement of India’s R&D and Design capabilities c.      Encouraging the development of synergistic sectors (I’m assuming this could include sectors such as homeland security, but possibly even energy, and communications down the road) 2.      A new nodal agency has been introduced with responsibility for offset discharge management (post-contract) a.      The new Defense Offset Management Wing (DOMW) will have full responsibility for offset contract management b.      A new position (JS – DOMW) has been created for this purpose c.      Pre-contract responsibility still rests with DDP and Acquisition Wing 3. ...

Neelam Mathews July 23, 2012  The much-awaited Defense Procurement Policy 2012 has been cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), Aerospace Diary learns. "The offsets policy will be released very soon. There were a few points that needed to be ironed out, a reason why it was late," a senior official in the MoD told Aerospace Diary. The policy will not be retroactive and will be valid from the date it is introduced, we are told. While the policy is expected to include  transfer of technology (TOT), vendors remain unclear how this will be implemented without any body to monitor it nor the method of payment for TOT. The question of IPR also needs to be addressed. The  2012 USIBC  advocacy agenda advancing the U.S. – India defense commercial relationship had asked for  India to formulate a robust offset policy that promotes transparency and  predictability, leading to a meaningful build-up of India’s indigenous industry capabilities  ...

OEMs Unhappy That Relaxed Indian Offset Policy Is Not Retroactive AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS July 12, 2012, 11:00 AM Recent upgrades to  India’s Defense Procurement Policy  ( DPP ) 2011 that are to be incorporated in  DPP  2012 could soon allow foreign vendors to buy from Indian companies assemblies that contain foreign content while getting credit for the entire assembly, as long as the content is paid for in rupees. The period of time allowed for the discharge of offset obligations is also being extended by two years, up to four, and that for the banking of offsets from five to seven years. A multiplier of factor 1.5 will be permitted through a non-equity route for offset obligations relating to direct exports, foreign direct investment, transfer of technology ( TOT ) or investment in kind. While the objective is to ensure establishment of a consistent, authoritative, empowered offsets agency serving as a ...

Neelam Mathews April 26, 2012 As I began pondering on the state of the defense offsets policy that was to be released last year and still hasn’t been officially released despite major guidelines worked out and given recently to the media, I was informed by an official “they were ironing out issues on the transfer of technology.” What makes us the way we are, I asked a doyen of the industry much loved by all and very experienced in the ways of the world. He told me calmly in a state of attained nirvana, the vacillating and inconsistent ways of the government would also come to pass. Quoting the Bible, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die….. a time to be silent and a time to speak….. Has the time come to speak, one wonders. Or is this a policy paralysis –to borrow from the words of the economic advisor- that will take its own time to heal? Or will we continue to cut a sorry figure against the gaze of the w...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews March 24, 2012 DCNS India has signed a contract with SEC Industries worth Rs 310-cr (approximately €50 million) for the indigenization of equipment for the P75 Scorpene submarines. The contract with SEC Industries is for the manufacture of equipment (hull hatches, cofferdam doors, knuckle hoses, ballast vent valves, High Pressure air cylinders, weapon handling and storage system). Over the next few years, SEC will manufacture equipment under a TOT provided by DCNS India and they will be progressively delivered to DCNS customer, Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), for integration onboard the P75 Scorpene submarines.  The contract with SEC is part of the indigenization program implemented by DCNS India under the P75 Mazagon Purchased Materials (MPM) contracts. Through this indigenization effort, we are developing strong industrial partnerships and capabilities for the P75 and future programs. “Together with our partners, we are positioning ourselves for the ...

AK Antony defense minister in parliament today Neelam Mathews March 19, 2012 On Basic Trainers and AJTs Following the grounding of HPT-32 aircraft due to flight safety concerns and shifting of basic flying training to Kiran Mk-I/IA aircraft, the syllabus for basic flying training has been reduced, keeping the available resources in mind. However, flying hours have been increased in other stages of flying to ensure wholesome training, said AK Antony defense minister in parliament today. “A proposal is being progressed for the procurement of 75 Basic Trainer Aircraft from Pilatus Aircraft Limited, Switzerland….….The delivery of the basic trainer aircraft from M/s Pilatus Aircraft Limited, Switzerland is scheduled to commence 15 months from signing of the contract. “There has been no delay in acquiring Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs). The Hawk-132 Advanced Jet Trainer has been selected for the Indian Air Force. A total of 106 Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft are being inducted into the In...

Neelam Mathews March 7, 2012 The new offsets policy that was to be released in August last year, is finding itself caught between two lobbies- one that wants to incorporate the multiplier clause and on that doesn’t. “There is a lack of consensus in the MoD. Besides, with the ruling party having performed miserably in the recent state elections, Congress might not want to make any moves for fear it might become an electoral issue that could affect its chances for elections in 2014.  "Dogged by the Bofors scandal that brought the government down in the past, I expect they’ll lie low and major decisions might take a backseat.” an official tells Aerospace Diary. We also learn the recent affinity to Western systems might also have brakes pulled on them. Indian manufacturers want the plug pulled on multipliers in the offset policy while their foreign counterparts have been pushing for them. “The Indian industry is not mature as yet. Once in 2-3 years, manufacturing gets moving, be...

Neelam Mathews Feb 24, 2012 The discussion held yesterday (Feb 23) on ratifying the Offsets policy remained “inconclusive,” Aerospace Diary learns. A meeting of the Defense Acquisition Council chaired by Defense Minister A.K. Antony looked at proposals to amend the offsets policy, part of the DPP 2011. The industry was hoping certain issues would be cleared including transfer of technology as offsets; multipliers and offsets in commercial shipbuilding. With a central implementing body required, the DAC was to look at   the Defense Offset Facilitation Agency (DOFA) as the empowering body for offsets.

Singapore Air Show » February 14, 2012 by  Neelam Mathews India’s big-ticket military acquisitions are expected to aggressively push schedules for the transfer of production to the country’s ambitious aerospace and defense industry. But the technology that India expects to be transferred through co-development work generated by offset agreements is raising concerns among vendors about possible violations of intellectual property rights (IPR). A revised policy on offsets is expected to be released soon and the industry hopes that this will at last deal with the thorny issue of transfer of technology (TOT), whi...

Neelam Mathews Nov 15, 2011 Brazil has the eleventh-largest defense expenditure in the world in 2010 and, due to its strong economic growth during the forecast period, it is expected to become one of the top ten defense spending nations by 2016, says an ASD Report. Brazil ’s defense expenditure has grown faster than the majority of the world’s largest defense budgets, at a CAGR of 20.59%, and is expected to register another fast growth rate in the forecast period, at a CAGR of 16.69%. Interestingly, Brazil has not come under military attack in over 50 years, and traditionally favors negotiation over military force to resolve disputes with other countries. As Brazil’s long-term focus is the reduction of its reliance on foreign arms suppliers, it is working towards enhancing its indigenous defense capabilities through technology transfer agreements. Brazil’s defense expenditure is expected to grow during the forecast period (2011–2016) due to Brazil’s aim to become the leading a...

Neelam Mathews Aug 19, 2011 True Transfer of Technology will not take place in India unless the country adopts a code of practices to be followed by the industry, numerous OEMs told Aerospace Diary. Over $13.1billion (including the MMRCA) worth of technology transfers are expected to be implemented in an aggressive time frame of eight years. “We need to have an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) directive and a code of best  practices that are followed  by the industry as there are no standards of IPR presently being followed. The government needs to take a lead on this by adopting it through a policy,” says an OEM. Unfortunately, the government continues to skirt the issue. Recently, a senior official openly admitted at a seminar that the subject was not yet easily understood nor being addressed seriously. Lessons could be learnt from the U.S wireless telecommunications research and development company, Qualcomm that transferred significant IPR to Quad Electronics for ...