SAAB awards design and development contract to Aeronautical Design and Development Center

TCS to participate in aerostructural design and development SAAB' next-generation Gripen fighter jet

Bangalore : Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), (BSE: TCS.BO, NSE: TCS.NS) is all set to participate in the design and development the Swedish aerospace major Saab's next generation Gripen fighter jet. TCS, in partnership with Saab has established the Aeronautical Design and Development Center (ADDC) in Bangalore, India.

The partnership to establish Aeronautical Design and Development Center (ADDC) is aimed at addressing the global aeronautical market. ADDC will create a single source of design and development capabilities within India, in addressing domestic and the global defense and civil aeronautical applications. In the first year of operations approximately 100 engineers from TCS will be employed at the center.

ADDC capabilities across the product lifecycle include: Design and Development of Structures / Systems for new Platforms, Performance Studies and Virtual prototyping, Aircraft Sustenance Engineering, Manufacturing Support, Production and After Market Support, Life extension / Upgrade Programs, Avionics and Mission Critical Software Development.

Kjell Moller, vice-president of Saab, said that Saab would transfer aerospace technology and competencies to the Aeronautical Design and Development Center. He also pointed out that this contract was not dependent on winning the IAF order.

In order to develop aerospace structures and simulating software for avionics, TCS is expected to invest in an advanced simulator from Saab.

Saab has offered Gripen as one of the contenders in India's MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) procurement process.

A part of the Tata Group, India's largest industrial conglomerate, TCS has over 116,000 of the world's best trained IT consultants in 50 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $5.7 billion for fiscal year ended 31 March 2008 and is listed on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange in India.