New Delhi: In keeping with the government’s focus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the field of defence technology, a TV documentary series –Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Makers of Indian Defence is being rolled out on ET NOW channel every week. The inaugural episode was aired on March 19 and March 20.
The second episode that was aired on March 26 and March 27, showcased Astra Microwave Products Limited (AMPL). Astra Microwave Products Limited was incorporated in 1991 by a team of distinguished scientists with experience in RF/Microwave/Digital electronics and management of projects with high technology content.
Participating in the documentary series Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Makers of Indian Defence, Astra Microwave Products Limited’s Managing Director S.G. Reddy said that “the company was promoted by DRDO scientists way back in 1991. During the last 31 years of its journey, the company has grown in a big way both in terms of product, technology and expertise and has recorded over US$ 87.5 million turnover for the last financial year.”
The promoters had sensed a need for a sound, technically powerful private company that can design, develop and produce highly end RF and Microwave subsystems and systems for strategic applications.
AMPL thus came into existence with a handful of highly motivated individuals, the path of progress being clear from the beginning. Starting operations from what is now called Unit I, the Company has grown substantially with continuous investment in infrastructure, captive test facilities and other resources.
The company works for radar systems, missile and telemetry systems, satellite systems, counter drone solutions, electronic warfare systems, antennas and microwave semiconductors. These services are widely used by military and paramilitary forces.
“The major milestones achieved by the company in its 31 years is that it has graduated in a big way from component supplier to defence, apart from being a qualified vendor for ISRO and is also a significant player in terms of exports under Defence Offset policy of the government,” said S.G. Reddy.
The company in working tandem with Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) developed several Phased Array Radars.
According to its Joint Managing Director (JMD), M.V. Reddy, “for the last seven years we have developed various radar systems for DRDO like telemetry radar and also we have developed multi-faceted radar and also supplied Perimeter Surveillance Radar System (PSRS) to BSF and also radars for Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and wind profiler radar for meteorological applications. These are the major products and all our products have been certified by various qualifying agencies.”
The company, he said has been “working directly for the Ministry of Defence by participating in various programmes and we have also been working with DRDO and ISRO. The hard work and expertise we have gained in microwave technology is not easy to replicate.”
At Astra, the emphasis has been on self-reliance which has led to indigenization of many components. Today the company has four production units and two R&D units that also include an exclusive space qualified facility. Astra today has an array of assembly and test facilities that include 3 Automatic assembly lines for PCBA assembly, 5 class 10K clean rooms, functional test infrastructure that extends from 30MHz up to 40GHz, in house Environment test facilities including EMI/EMC facility and a first for any Indian Private Industry – Near Field Antenna test and measurement range. Astra is an ISO9001:2008 company, along with AS 9100 Rev D certification for its special projects division.
