🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

CoreEL’s buy of Lekha Wireless readies it for India’s SDR buildout

• Indian Army signed a deal for its first indigenously designed SDRs developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), then manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) 1.
• CoreEL bought Lekha Wireless’ Aerospace & Defence division to deepen its military communications work, which helps it bid in a segment where BEL is a main supplier 21.
• SDRs are software-based radios that can be reprogrammed across standards to enable secure real-time links for network-centric warfare (linking sensors, weapons and units) 3.
• In 2021 the Ministry of Defence signed a US$137 million SDR deal with BEL, with delivery due in three years 4. These radios work with existing Indian sets and accept future software updates, which creates steady upgrade and maintenance work 4.

Tooling, component vendors can serve India’s defence electronics buildout

• New Delhi set a US$26 billion defence industry goal by 2025 under Make in India, a program to boost manufacturing and cut import dependence 4.
• CoreEL will expand manufacturing capacity for large projects, opening demand for production equipment, quality systems, and test tools.
• Local SDR output cuts reliance on foreign suppliers and raises demand for high-skill defence electronics manufacturing 3. Electronic warfare covers the offensive and defensive use of the electromagnetic spectrum 3.
• Suppliers of manufacturing execution systems and cybersecurity for defence electronics plus secure supply chain tools can serve firms like CoreEL. Makers of military-grade components fit the same need as production ramps to meet procurement timelines.