Adani Defence Partners with Sparton to Boost India's Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities
- Adani Defence partners with Elbit subsidiary
- India’s first indigenous sonobuoy solution
- Collaboration for advanced anti-submarine warfare
Adani Defence & Aerospace has taken a significant leap in India’s defence capabilities by collaborating with Sparton DeLeon Springs LLC, a U.S.-based specialist in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) systems and a subsidiary of Elbit Systems of America. This partnership positions Adani Defence as the first private Indian company to offer an indigenised sonobuoy solution, reinforcing the nation’s push for self-reliance in defence technology.
Sparton operates under Elbit Systems, an Israel-headquartered global leader in defence and homeland security technologies. The collaboration aims to localise the assembly of advanced ASW solutions and complex electronic systems, catering to both Indian and global markets. Adani Defence will leverage its established expertise in development, manufacturing, and maintenance services, while integrating Sparton’s cutting-edge ASW technology to strengthen India’s naval defence infrastructure.
Sonobuoys are crucial maritime platforms that enhance Undersea Domain Awareness (UDA) by detecting, locating, and tracking submarines and other underwater threats. These systems are vital for anti-submarine warfare and other naval operations, ensuring the security of naval carrier strike groups and protecting maritime interests. Historically, India has relied heavily on imports for such technology, increasing dependency on foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Aligned with India’s strategic initiatives like ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) and ‘Make in India', this partnership allows Adani Defence to indigenise the delivery of these critical systems, providing solutions that are designed and manufactured in India for India. The move is expected to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers while promoting the development of high-technology skill sets within the country.
Jeet Adani, Vice President of Adani Enterprises, highlighted the urgency of enhancing India’s undersea warfare capabilities amid a volatile maritime environment. He stated, “Strengthening India’s undersea warfare capabilities is not merely a strategic priority but an imperative for safeguarding sovereignty and national interests”. He emphasized the need for integrated, mission-ready intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and ASW capabilities, including sonobuoys that are indigenously developed and globally competitive.
Donnelly Bohan, President and CEO of Sparton DeLeon Springs LLC, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. He noted Sparton’s legacy of problem-solving, advanced engineering, and manufacturing of maritime defence solutions for the U.S. Navy, adding that the collaboration will localise assembly, build high-tech skill sets, and deliver reliable ASW solutions customised for the Indian Navy’s needs.
This latest collaboration builds upon previous partnerships between Adani Defence and Elbit Systems. Since 2016, the two entities have worked together on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including drones and control systems, under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Their joint venture established India’s first private UAV manufacturing facility in Hyderabad in 2018, producing aerostructures for the Hermes 900 and Hermes 450 drones. By 2020, they began exporting mini-UAV systems and set up a design centre, and in 2023, Elbit acquired a 44% stake in Adani’s Atharva Advanced Systems, focusing on autonomous aerial technologies.
The partnership between Adani Defence and Sparton marks a pivotal step in India’s defence manufacturing sector, signaling a stronger, self-reliant future for the nation’s naval defence capabilities.
