Schiebel India is paving the way for advanced defence solutions with their flagship S-100 Unmanned Aerial System and upcoming innovations like the S-300. In an exclusive interview with Raksha Anirveda, Schiebel India CEO Jajati Mohanty (JM) reflects on the company’s resilient journey in the Indian defence market. From initial demonstrations in 2007 to overcoming challenges posed by dynamic geopolitical landscapes, Mohanty shares insights into Schiebel’s strategic planning, product innovation, steadfast commitment to the Make in India initiative, and much more.
RA: Having made its foray into the Indian market a few years back, has the growth trajectory of Schiebel India been as per the expectations? Did you face any major challenges?
JM: We all know that the gestation period for obtaining any defence order, particularly for platforms, is very long and can take up to a decade to come to fruition. This is due to the dynamics of the defence market, which continuously changes with the geopolitical situation in and around the country. Although Schiebel conducted its first demonstration for the Indian Navy in 2007, the process of the Directorate of Defence Procurement (DDP) had not been formalised, and the demo, along with its recommendations, got lost in the corridors of acquisition. Schiebel regrouped with definitive planning in 2019 and held steady even during the COVID-19 pandemic to participate in a global tender, which was later scrapped. In 2022, we successfully won the fast-track procurement, which was delivered to the Navy.
We would like to state here that the defence business in India is very competitive and requires a comprehensive understanding of the geopolitical situation as well as the changing short-term and long-term acquisition plans of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). We are pleased with having opened our operations in India and look forward to providing solutions for various military and civilian market requirements here.
RA: Please provide insights into Schiebel’s business development plans in India for the next 2-3 years.
JM: We are currently working with the Indian Navy to use our S-100 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) in a tactical role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and anticipate an increase in numbers as the Navy experiences the capability of our mature solution and steadily creates new concepts of operations based on this quantum jump in technology for use at high seas. The S-100 is a platform capable of handling Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), mine detection, manned-unmanned teaming, unmanned-unmanned teaming, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations, and operational logistics, to name a few. The Navy itself is studying the capability further to enhance its options with the help of the S-100 platform by providing us with necessary inputs.
RA: Schiebel’s S-100 has emerged as a leader despite increasing competition. Are there plans to further improve its capabilities and introduce a new version in the near future?
JM: As I have indicated before, the platform has been found to be very versatile at sea, and our customers have commenced its exploitation in earnest to further optimise its usage. Schiebel has been the market leader for the last two decades, and the reason for this is our capability and our thought process to innovate and stay ahead of the global curve. We execute capabilities when others are just thinking about them, for example, the manned-unmanned teaming of a rotary UAS from an Airbus helicopter was demonstrated to the world years ago, and similarly, the unmanned-unmanned teaming was shown recently to NATO Navies during the last Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping Using Maritime Uncrewed Systems (REPMUS) in 2023. Therefore, Schiebel will always improve its capabilities and introduce new versions and capabilities to provide multiple options to new and existing customers in India and around the world.
RA: Schiebel’s footprint across the continents has been expanding. With the new facility in France, it has further strengthened its European presence. Do you think India will emerge as a major facility/export hub for Schiebel in the next 3-4 years?
JM: We will soon complete all activities towards a functional Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the S-100 in India for domestic customers, both military and civilian. The plan is to make Schiebel India a regional hub for MRO activities and cater to Asian and African markets, taking into account the government’s mandate and a suitable environment being provided to the Make in India initiative and exports.
“Despite initial setbacks and a long gestation period for defence orders, Schiebel India successfully regrouped with definitive planning in 2019, demonstrating resilience even during the COVID-19 pandemic, and winning a fast-track procurement in 2022.” Jajati Mohanty, CEO, Schiebel India
RA: Could you share your experience working with the Indian Navy and your expectations regarding future business prospects?
JM: The Indian Navy has more than 8,000 kilometres of coastline and some of the busiest sea lanes of communication. The S-100 has provided them with a fantastic platform for undertaking a plethora of activities that previously required a manned helicopter and obviously came with limitations and regulations. With the S-100, the Navy has found its reach and enhanced its multi-role, multi-domain capability by leaps and bounds. The smoothness and zeal with which the Indian Navy has adopted the S-100 into their concept of operations onboard frontline warships have been an eye-opener, and one feels proud as a fellow Indian.
We at Schiebel India want to match the Indian Navy in their stride and get the MRO facility operational by the end of this year so that all repair and overhaul activities are completed within the country. To meet this requirement, we are currently working on creating necessary skills and infrastructural capabilities by domestic companies with handholding from Schiebel Austria. We expect that this symbiotic relationship will result in the optimal usage of existing S-100 platform and the enhancement of more systems by the Indian Navy for other capital warships on both the east and west coasts of India.
RA: When are you planning to introduce the S-300 into the Indian market?
JM: The S-300 provides capabilities to the user that currently do not exist in the global defence market, and we expect to disrupt the market for rotary unmanned aerial systems. In addition to offering the same capability to the Indian military in terms of payload capability and enhanced endurance, the S-300 would position itself as the only rotary unmanned system capable of handling high-altitude operations, both in terms of ISR and operational logistics. This would clearly be a game-changer for high-altitude operations, which need systems like these to drastically reduce dependence on manned aviation and slow-moving logistics.
RA: As a key contributor to India’s Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) drive, do you think that this initiative should be re-evaluated now to realise its true potential? Kindly elaborate with your suggestions.
JM: The Aatmanirbharta drive/Make in India initiative has been long overdue. Most Western powers have grown slowly and steadily in the post-World War II era by insisting on home-grown technologies and government subsidies for defence-related exports. That is why so many defence deals are still done government-to-government (G2G). In my opinion, the best aspect of the Make in India initiative has been the growth of Indian companies, both in the public and private sectors, to undertake licensed production by becoming integrators. We are able to address the know-how capability gaps with the Indian industry. This understanding will go a long way for the Indian industry, particularly private players, to study the process and then address the “know-why” deficit areas.
“Schiebel India is set to establish a regional hub for MRO activities, enhancing the capabilities of domestic companies and reinforcing its commit-ment to the Make in India initiative”
Furthermore, the government allowing automatic Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of 74:26 has paved the way for foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to set up shop in India and actually produce equipment here for worldwide sales. The list of US and European firms setting up shop in India indicates the ecosystems that have slowly and steadily developed in various defence corridors set up by the government. It is only a matter of time before we see global exports surging ahead to meet global demand from India.
