New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS): Airbus Defence and Space’s Optronics business unit and the Indian defence ministry have signed a 13 million euro (Rs.1 billion) contract for the delivery of a periscope
maintenance facility. It is meant for the maintenance and repair of all of the Indian Navy's submarine fleet periscopes and is due to be completed in September 2016.

“The contract demonstrates Airbus Defence and Space’s commitment to not only supply systems and technologies to customers, but also to equip them with the necessary operational maintenance capability,” a company statement said.

Harald Hansen, director (Business Development Sea) at Airbus Defence and Space’s Optronics business unit, said: “When a product is serviced, a lot of time is lost during the transport between different facilities. Once maintenance work can be done locally, the operators can speed up this process and enhance the operational readiness of the Indian fleet.”

The establishment of the facility and the training of Indian Navy technicians in Germany and India “can be seen as a first step in establishing an in-country service capability for future naval operations. For the implementation of the facility, Airbus Defence and Space is partnering with Tata Consultancy Services and H&H Precision Pvt Ltd”, the statement said.

Airbus Defence and Space’s Optronics business unit is a world leader in the field of surveillance, periscope and high-performance optronic mast systems and has manufactured and delivered more than 3,000 periscopes and optronic mast systems. The current systems are in use by 21 leading naval forces around the world. Airbus Defence and Space has previously established periscope maintenance facility in Germany, South Korea, Italy and Greece.