Saint Antony blesses Kerala with defence projects

Following the examples of former Union ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mamata Banerjee, Defence Minister AK Antony is on a spree to set up defence projects in his home state Kerala as the election approaches. Antony is quietly turning Kerala into a defence hub. Nearly a dozen of defence projects are being set up in the state. 

Antony - India's longest continuing serving defence minister in the country is quietly turning Kerala into a defence hub with nearly a dozen defence projects being set up in the state. In contrast only two projects have been in the other states – Nalanda Ordnance Factory in Bihar (the decision for which was taken during George Fernandes term) and Indian National Defence University (INDU) in Gurgaon.

On Saturday, Antony inaugurated Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd’s Strategic Electronic Factory at Kasargod (Kerala) and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the production facilities at the same function.  This factory will produce advanced avionics for Aircraft and Helicopters.

According to sources, the factory – whose first phase will cost Rs. 66 crore – has been set up on the initiative of the Kerala Government. The state government allotted 196 acres of land for setting up the new unit. Presently the factory has taken up production of Airborne Special Purpose Computers like Mission computer, Display Processor, Radar Computers, Open Architect Mission computer etc. for Sukhoi SU-30, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and MiG-27 fighter jets’ upgrade have been taken up at this factory.

In the phase-II – when the investment is likely to go up to Rs. 200 crore - the factory will undertake manufacturing of avionics for the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) yet to be purchased by the Indian Air Force. “The expansion of this factory will also lead to growth of ancillary industries which in-turn will generate secondary employment opportunities and enhance skill-set in this area,” the HAL officials added. 

Two day earlier on November 15^th, the Defence Minister also inaugurated another complex for the integration of supersonic cruise missile BrahMos in Thiruvananthapuram – which already housed one integration facility. The new facility aims at doubling the production of the missiles with the IAF placing an order for 200 air version of the missiles worth Rs. 6,000 crore.

Antony had also lashed out at the Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy during the inauguration of the BrahMos complex as the Defence Ministry cannot risk bringing new defence projects in the state due to infavourable industrial environment. Despite that the Defence Minister has managed to confer the most “favoured” state with seven major defence projects inaugurated in the state since the beginning of his term in 2006. The projects will definitely give him political mileage in the state.

Public sector undertaking Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) has set up its 4^th manufacturing unit at Palakkad. And the project is likely to entail an investment of Rs. 260 crore to manufacture Tatra vehicles and other military automobiles and was expected to create 200 jobs that would eventually go up to 1,000.

Another public sector major Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL) has set up third support centre at Kochi’s Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) after Mumbai and Visakhapattanam.

Antony, also a former Chief Minister of Kerala and an astute politician, had commissioned a Coast Guard Academy at Azhikkal in 2011 in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attack for training the security force personnel. The academy is expected to train 500 cadets for search and rescue mission and respond to maritime contingencies. 

In January 2011 itself he sanctioned Rs. 600 crore National Institute for Research and Development in Ship Building (NIRDESH) at Kozhikode. NIRDESH envisages helping the indigenous ship-building industry. The Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) also has some major warship construction orders – like the construction of the first indigenous aircraft carrier. 

The Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala was also commissioned by Antony even though the project has been in limbo for the last 20 years.