Rafale offset work begins: Thales to start radar unit in Mihan

Nagpur: The Dhirubhai Ambani Aerospace Park (DAAP) coming up at Mihan-SEZ is expected to get investment of another Rs1,000 crore in the coming days. Thales Group and Turgis et Galliard of France have already been allotted land in the area, and Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), the developer for Mihan-SEZ, has got proposals from five more companies. The offers are in various stages of negotiation. Together, over Rs1,000 crore are expected to be pumped into Reliance’s aerospace venture here.
Thales would be coming up with a radar manufacturing unit at Nagpur, said sources involved in the development. The unit will be catering to French aircraft manufacturer Dassault, which is already operating its joint venture unit with Reliance — Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) in the SEZ.

Along with DRAL, the Thales unit is also part of investment to be done in the country under the Rs30,000 crore offset obligation arising out of the 36 Rafale purchase by India. The allotment of first land parcel of 5 acres was done in February with the next in the offing, said sources. The first phase is expected to be starting in the short-term, said a source.

The DAAP is being developed by Reliance Aerostructure Limited (RAL), which in turn has provided land to Thales in its capacity as a co-developer in Mihan-SEZ. If MADC is the SEZ’s developer, companies taking up bulk land also get co-developer status which allows them to let in other investors.

Turgis et Galliard has been allotted 2 acres directly by MADC in its area. The company is engaged in making equipment used for transport of ammunition. Sources say the equipment is also used to load bombs in fighter planes.

The five other companies which have put up proposals before MADC have plans to operate as ancillaries to DRAL, which is making components for Dassault’s business Jet Falcon 2000.

Sources said even as the deal has not been finalized yet there are proposals to take up 50 acres in all by the five companies. The companies are engaged in a range of activities, like manufacture of reading instruments for aircraft, and interiors. One of the company specializes in making engines.

The units will take up land within RAL complex or in the MADC area depending on the need. RAL has taken up 104 acres in Mihan-SEZ and is offering space to other units as a co-developer, said a source.

There is expansion on other fronts too said sources. In April first week, TCS was allotted another 50 acre of land for a software unit. The company has already been allotted 50 acre land in the SEZ.

Patanjali Group, which has acquired over 230 acre land outside the SEZ area of Mihan, is learnt to have finished construction of its first phase. The trial production is expected to begin by June.