Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) one of the premier Defence Public Sector undertakings in the country with nine units, has successfully developed a number of products specific to the needs of the Armed Forces. Among them are the updated flycatcher radar, the VHF transreceiver Stars and the improved low level air defence weapon which have been evaluated and approved by the defence forces for induction. BEL has also developed a battlefield surveillance radar in collaboration with an Israeli company.

BEL has registered a record turnover of Rs 1939 crore during 2001-02 which is a 13 per cent increase over last year’s turnover and all the nine manufacturing units of BEL continued to make profits. The value of production during the year 2001-2002 was Rs 2022 crore which was again an increase of 13 per cent over the previous year’s figure of Rs 1787 crore. The value of order book, as on April 1 2002, was Rs 4100 crore. This is the highest ever order level so far achieved by BEL.

BEL has recently negotiated an export order from AIO Egypt for refurbishment of cymbeline mortar locating radar valued at around Rs 11.7 crore. The contract is to be implemented in 18 months from the date of the order. During the year 2001-02, BEL earned the distinction of becoming the first Defence PSU to acquire operational Miniratna Category-I status. This status will provide BEL certain operational autonomy in the areas of capital investment, establishment of joint ventures etc.

A number of initiatives have been taken to diversify the business of BEL and secure more orders. In September 2001, BEL won a tender of Rs 18 crore from Andhra Pradesh Government towards establishing a network (APNET) for state-wide broadcast and communication upto district/block level. The hub has been commissioned and the terminals are in various stages of completion. The Andhra Pradesh Government has now invited BEL to give a proposal for Phase II of the project to cover the whole state. The value of Phase II will be around Rs 40 crore.

BEL has also been awarded a satellite network tender by Andhra Pradesh Beverages Corporations Limited (APBCL). APBCL negotiated the price with BEL for using the common infrastructure of APNET at the hub. The main application is for consolidating the sales transactions on-line by 31 remote centres with the APBCL headquarters on the BOOT model.

BEL has been selected through competitive tendering by the Ministry of Home Affairs to establish a countrywide network called POLNET on turnkey basis. The project includes 11M hub at Delhi, 40 high capacity VSAT terminals for the state headquarters and major cities, 833 low capacity VSATs at district headquarters and block levels. The negotiations have been completed and the order valued at Rs 97 crore, is in the final stages of processing. POLNET will enable effective communication among police forces of various states, exchange of police data files and fingerprints and video broadcast and conferencing.

BEL secured a large number of order for the LED based solar traffic signals in Bangalore, Hyderabad and New Delhi. BEL has also commenced manufacture and supply of solar-based mini power plants, the first of which has been installed at a technology foundation in New Delhi.

BEL and Indian Space Research Organisation have entered into an understanding for cooperative efforts to meet the growing demands of satellite manufacture in India. Satellite Electronics Payload (transponders)-a major part of any satellite will be manufactured by BEL for integration with the satellite to be launched by ISRO. BEL’s new area of focus in research and development is the upgradation of old systems of defence forces to extend their life with new technology at an affordable cost