In India, Indra’s focus areas at the moment are radars, electronic warfare, IFF, SATCOM and simulators in keeping with foreseeable market demand of the Indian defence forces.
Indra is a leading consulting and technology multinational in Spain and Latin America. It provides solutions and services for the transport and traffic, energy and industry, public administration and health care, financial services, security and defence and telecom and media sectors. In an interview with SP’s M.A.I., Tehmur Khan Galindo, Managing Director, Indra Sistemas India Pvt Ltd gives an insight into the strengths of Indra and its marketing strategy.

SP’s M.A.I. (SP’s): Indra is involved in multiple sectors like transport and traffic, energy and industry, public administration and health care, telecommunications and so on. Would you like to tell us briefly about Indra’s presence in India and the markets you are addressing?

Tehmur Khan Galindo (Galindo): Indra is one of the world’s largest consultancy and technology multinationals, a leader in Europe and Latin America and is expanding in other emerging economies. Innovation is the cornerstone of its business, which is highly focused on the customer and on sustainability. The multinational is one of the leaders in its sector in Europe in terms of investment in R&D and innovation, having invested more than €570 million in the last three years. With sales approaching €3,000 million, it employs 43,000 professionals and has customers in 138 countries.

Indra offers its clients a comprehensive added value package including consulting services, project development, system and application integration as well as information system and business process outsourcing. The package offered is structured in two main segments: Solutions and services for the following vertical markets: defence and security, transport and traffic, air traffic management (ATM) and airports, energy and industry, telecommunications and media, finance and insurance and public administrations and health care. Indra is settled in India since 2009.

We have won contracts in many areas in the air traffic management sector. In 2009 we were awarded the Automation of ATC Systems at 38 airports managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) followed by a contract for nine secondary surveillance radars and ATC training simulators at four metro Airports—Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata the supply, installation and commission of automation system at Kolkata Airport—and very recently the supply installation of instrument landing system for various airports of AAI. In the infrastructure sector, we were awarded with several contracts. For metros, we have implemented our solution for automatic fare collection system in Kolkata Metro, Delhi Airport Metro, Mumbai Metro One and the first monorail in India. For highways, Indra has implemented our solution for highway traffic management system over 95 km in Rajasthan and for toll management system in 88 lanes in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. We have also provided design and consultation services for the central control at the new Indira Gandhi International Airport and for the bus rapid transit corridor in Delhi to Delhi integrated multi-mode transport system (DIMTS).

SP’s: What are the focusareas Indra specialises in defence and security and especially with regard to India?

Galindo: In defence and security Indra is active since 1921 and is a point of reference in the defence and security industry as a supplier of global integrated solutions for the implementation and management of critical systems in real time, currently in operation with the armed forces and security forces of Ministries of Defence (MoD) of various countries throughout the five continents, and participating in the sector’s leading multinational consortiums and programmes. The customised systems that Indra prepares for its clients address the operational requirements for all traditional platforms (land, sea, air) as well as the fourth and fifth domains of space and cyberspace. Indra occupies a leading position on the market thanks to the availability of fully contrasted in-house technology. The company’s profound understanding of its clients and commitment to service, along with its international presence and participation in the most significant multinational consortia and projects, are key competitive factors that are unlikely to be equalled.

Indra’s activity in the industry is based on the experience acquired over decades in all the domains, maritime, land, air and space in the following areas: radars, electronic warfare systems, electronic intelligence systems, air defence systems, IFF, satellite communication systems and control stations, simulation, CBRNe, UAVs, C4I, electro-optic sensors, coastal surveillance and border security, operations centres for the state security forces, integrated logistical systems, automatic test systems, and lately in cyber defence.

Indra provides systems and solutions based on proprietary technology participating in the sector’s leading multinational consortiums and programmes: Eurofighter and A400M programmes, Tiger helicopter, Leopard tank, LHD and F100 vessels, S80 submarine, Galileo constellation, Copernicus programme, and Ingenio y Paz satellites, among others. In India our focus areas at the moment are radars, EW, IFF, SATCOM and simulators in keeping with foreseeable market demand of the Indian defence forces. We already have a workshare agreement with a DPSU for design and supply of EW systems for the Indian Navy and Army. We also have the contract for a prestigious SATCOM project for the Indian MoD. Besides, we have collaboration arrangements with some leading Indian private industries as well.

SP’s: What about maritime domain and coastal security networks? Does Indra have integrated solutions for this domain?

Galindo: For the maritime and coastal security Indra has a ‘System of Systems’ solution, the SIVE, that integrates various sensors (radar, electro-optical system, electronic intelligence system), command control and communication systems providing early warning and increased reaction time for the coordination of interception units. It consolidates a 24 x 365 day/night operation with integration with external systems (VTS, AIS, SAR, fishing control, etc). SIVE covers 5,400 km of mainland and island coastline. Our other notable references for SIVE deployment are the Romania, Hong Kong, Latvia Coast and the Portugal coastal surveillance systems.

SP’s: Is Indra providing solutions for cyber security?

Galindo: In 2013 Indra created i-CSOC (Cyber-Security Operations Centre), a new centre specialised in cyber security operations, from which it provides protection for systems and networks for companies, organisations and institutions that require it. Indra’s centre was founded with the aim of becoming an international benchmark. It has approximately 100 experts working together in a 500 sqmetre facility fitted out and equipped with the most advanced technology. Given the need for specialisation in every sector, the unit has developed a series of sector-specific cyber security solutions: cyber security for citizens—comprehensive protection for citizens who operate on the Internet, in collaboration with public administrations and enterprises: digital identity of citizens (e-id, e-passport), automatic border control systems (ABC Systems), electronic signature, identity access management systems (IAM), early warning centres (CERTs) and information for citizens; cyber security for organisations—a complete solution for public and private organisations: development and implementation of security master plans, ISMSs, operation of technical security offices, security operations centres (SOC), managed security services (MSSP), implementation of cyber security infrastructures and solutions, consulting and auditing, training, etc. cyber security for critical infrastructure protection—protection of systems and networks of critical infrastructures: development and deployment of cyber security plans for nuclear power plants, control systems, refineries, oil/gas pipelines, dams and water supply systems, SmartGrids, etc.

SP’s: What electronic warfare systems and solutions does Indra have for airborne platforms?

Galindo: For airborne platforms Indra has state-of-the-art electronic defence systems, automated self-protection jammers (ASPJs), the MANTA DIRCM (directed infrared countermeasures system), a portfolio of radar warming receivers and a range of combined interrogator transponder IFF systems up to Mode 5 to suit all platform types, helicopters, fixed-wing fighters, UAVs, and aerostats. Indra also develops the data link communication terminal the Link-16. For the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), you would be aware that Indra was providing the ASPJs for the Eurofighter apart from being a key integrator in the programme.

SP’s: Indra is a big name in ATC/ATM solutions and have been successful in the civil market. What is your presence in India for the defence airfields and what are your plans for it?

Galindo: For defence airfields, we are already executing supply of Navaids for air force airfields under the MAFI project as a sub-contractor to a very important Indian firm. Our vision is to consolidate our control in air space management for the defence services with our portfolio of Navaids and sensors.

SP’s: With the present Indian Government’s policy of ‘Make in India’ and increase in FDI, have you plans to invest in India and in what areas?

Galindo: Given the preferred procurement routes of ‘Buy and Make Indian’ and ‘Buy Indian’ we have been operating on collaboration and transfer of technology (ToT) basis with DPSUs and Indian private industry. For the moment, with the foreseeable market demand for our solutions, we shall continue with the partnership model to expand our base in India but given an appropriate opportunity and business case, we could consider evaluating a joint venture in India in the future.