Hardeep Singh Bedi
NEW DELHI: The Tethys Systems Ltd., a Swiss firm offering Naval System Solutions to the different navies, is interested in striking a deal with Indian Public Sector Major Bharat Electrical Limited (BEL) so that the Indian company becomes a global supplier. The Swiss firm is ready to transfer its world class technology to BEL so that the latter is able to market its products globally.
Viktor Schenker, Chairman of Tethys Systems Ltd., who is on a weeklong visit to India, said that his company was looking for credible collaborators across Asia in the field of developing, manufacturing and selling of new naval applications specifically in the area of mini combat systems tailored to match any customer requirements.
He said that his company was looking for India as one of the biggest clients in the naval market worldwide. In his opinion, the need for small and medium sized naval vessels would be growing remarkably in the coming decade, namely up to 52 billion Euro.
Tethys Systems offers a wide range of fire control systems and solutions specifically designed for naval applications and to meet both emerging and constantly evolving challenges posed by current and future naval threat scenarios. Product assembly, as well as overhaul and modernizations are done in its premises in Switzerland or at customer premises worldwide.
Tethys Systems Ltd. was formed as a result of a employment buy-out by a dedicated team of naval defence experts. This strong team possesses the know-how and the necessary experience to develop, produce and support a wide range of license products for the international naval market. Tethys Systems is also able to custom design a specialized naval defence solutions to meet individual customer requirements including hardware and software solutions, assembly, integration and testing.
It supplies the whole spectrum of integrated logistic support and services required by Navies around the world. Altogether, Tethys Systems offers more than 100 man-years experience within international Naval business. The major objective is to deliver total customer satisfaction by providing cost effective, timely and quality driven systems and services.
Schenker emphasized that his company’s activities are focused on Navy projects in particular in the field of radar and electro-optical tracking sensors, fire control systems and weapon integration. The main capabilities are: – Development and Production of tracking sensors, guns and fire control systems – System Integration and technical support on-board customer ship platforms – Overhaul, modernization and system maintenance of existing systems – Initial and refresher training courses for operation, maintenance and repair – Spare parts supply and repairable items – Integrated logistic support according to Mil. Hdbk 502
Stating that Tethys Systems Ltd. was a total solution provider of high-tech products and services for the international naval market, Schenker added that the naval products supplied by in his company are more cost effective, providing high performance, are easy to maintain and operate and capable of competing with the best in the world. He also maintained that the transfer of know-how from the manufacturer to the buying country was the philosophy of Tethys Systems.
Schenker’s visit to India is a part of the exercise to find suitable partners and collaborators in such ventures. Tethys Systems is keen to have collaboration with Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) which he has known for the last 22 years. According to him, BEL is very strong in the domestic market and collaboration with Tethys Systems would help in grow at international level and bag many prestigious contacts worldwide.
Schenker is an internationally acclaimed naval weapon systems expert and his worldwide contacts always come handy in providing naval combat system solutions for small and medium naval ships. Ukraine, known for its expertise in manufacturing aircraft carrier is keen to establish relationship with Tethys Systems and to get some footprint in India too.
“Collaboration with BEL in India would be a big boost. India has a huge coastline and various other kind of naval requirements. We are looking at India as a huge market and with the transfer of technology, BEL can not only enhance its present capacity but also do better in exports by collaborating with us,” said Mr Schenker.
Tethys Systems Director, Animesh Sinha said that his company’s cost effective naval solutions would also come handy for many south east Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and a few others which Tethys Systems is targeting.
He disclosed that the world naval market potential in small and medium size ship is huge and we want to offer turn-key solutions to our customers. “We wish to provide them tailor-made solutions as per their requirements which would not only be cost effective but also less time consuming” said Sinha.
