Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), India’s largest manufacturer of defense electronics equipment, and Astra Microwave Products Ltd, a provider of cutting-edge RF and microwave components and sub-systems for critical defense and civilian applications, today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to form a joint venture company.

According to the terms of the MoU, the joint venture, in which Bharat Electronics will own 49% equity and Astra Microwave will own 51% equity, will design, develop, prototype, manufacture, and market RF and microwave products for use in defense, space, and telecommunications. The JV is proposed to be the platform for the design, development, and manufacture of BEL’s microwave intensive products.

The MoU was signed in Bangalore today by IV Sarma, Director (R&D), Bharat Electronics, and B Malla Reddy, Managing Director, Astra Microwave.