JSW Group makes strategic entry into Defence sector to be a leading Defence equipment manufacturer in India

Plans to induct niche technologies to address capability gaps of the Indian Armed Forces

JSW Group, one of India's largest conglomerates announced its strategic entry into the Defence sector with the establishment of a new business vertical, JSW Defence and Aerospace (JSW Defence). With a focused approach in contributing to the ‘Make in India program’ initiated by Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, in its very first venture, JSW Defence has acquired a majority stake in an extreme off-road vehicle company, Gecko Motors Private Limited, now renamed as JSW Gecko Motors Pvt Ltd ("JSW Gecko"). The company promoted by its founders led by Jaskirat Singh Nagra has secured an order worth INR 250 crore from Ministry of Defence (Army), Government of India for the manufacture and supply of 96 Specialist Mobility Vehicles (SMVs), branded as ATOR N1200.This order is currently under manufacturing at JSW Gecko’s newly set-up manufacturing unit in Chandigarh, Punjab and will be supplied to the Armed Forces no later than June 2024.

The ATOR N1200 is an indigenized version of the SHERP N1200 amphibious extreme mobility vehicle, designed by UK-based Copato Ltd ("Copato"). Copato has entered into a Joint Venture agreement with JSW Defence and JSW Gecko along with technology supply license agreement for the manufacture of Specialist Mobility Vehicles in India with a vision to make India the global production hub for this product.

According to Mr Parth Jindal, "At $73.8 Billion, India as a country has an extremely large defence budget. By 2030 the Indian defence budget is likely to grow to $200Bn. Capital outlay forms a very large part of the defence budget and it is here, we at JSW see a big opportunity. As one of India’s leading manufacturing groups we not only felt it was our duty to Make in India for India and the World but also see this as a very large opportunity with a significant TAM. JSW Group is known for bringing world class products and services to India and we would like to extend this very ethos to the defence vertical as well. Moreover, JSW Group’s entry into the Defence business reciprocates the Indian Government’s confidence of providing impetus through private sector’s participation in building indigenous defence capabilities. In line with our strategy, our first product, ATOR N1200 Specialist Mobility Vehicles being manufactured for the Indian Army, is an Indian adaptation of the amphibious all-terrain SHERP N-1200. This vehicle is designed to navigate all types of terrains in extreme weather conditions. It has proven its capability from the arid deserts of Rajasthan to the tortuous creeks and mudflats of Bhuj/Rann of Kutch to the rugged mountainous terrain in sub-zero temperatures. The ATOR shall provide significant advantages to the Indian Army in its operations. JSW Gecko shall continue to push the boundaries of off-road mobility, providing India with vehicles that are as resilient and adaptable as its people. As part of our strategic focus, we are actively pursuing partnerships with global players & Indian start-ups to introduce the latest military technology across multiple defence equipment segments. Our endeavour shall be to bring in niche technologies to fill in the capability gaps of Indian Armed Forces and partner with our soldiers in the line of combat."

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Jaskirat Singh Nagra said, "We saw a great opportunity for extreme mobility vehicles in the Indian market. For the last 8 years we have been working to develop unique application specific vehicles for extreme terrains. We were very keen to have a strategic partner who could help us grow our business and at the same time support our R&D efforts to design and develop new extreme mobility products for India and the world. It was a perfect alignment of goals and sheer good fortune, that JSW Group’s entry into the Defence sector and our plans aligned to enable this partnership to evolve. With JSW’s entry, JSW Gecko is very well positioned to leverage the immense potential the extreme mobility sector presents”

Ms. Viktoria Tverdokhleb, CEO of JSW Gecko stated, "SHERP N 1200 is a transportation solution of the United Nations World Food Program that positively impacts the effectiveness of food transport operations as they allow them to reach locations irrespective of seasonal and weather conditions. We are pleased to have the opportunity to present to the Indian market, and especially to the Defence sector an unique, innovative and technologically advanced Specialist Mobility Vehicles (SMVs) that has no analogues in the world in terms of its capabilities and characteristics and has no competitors in the off-road ability and manoeuvrability. The vehicle’s amphibious capabilities have proven to be indispensable during military service support operations, from supply operations, medical evacuations, to the Emergency Services saving lives and providing support in extreme conditions and working under severe conditions and extreme terrain. SMVs have also proven themselves as a light military transport, capable of going to any remote location where no other vehicles can access.”

JSW Defence has appointed Commodore Madhu Gentela (Retd), NM, an ex-Naval officer with over 30 years’ experience in military technology, to lead the Group’s Defence business. JSW Gecko has roped in Lt General Raj Jagga who retired as DG Mech Forces as a strategic advisor to its Board. Col S Pandit who has close to 20 years of experience in Land Mobility Systems has been roped in as a consultant to the business venture.

In the long term, JSW Defence envisions to not only supply State-of-the-Art equipment to the Indian Armed Forces but also intends to establish itself as a key player at the international stage and contribute to India’s ambition to become a USD 5 billion defence export economy. With a resolute mission aligned with the JSW Group's core ethos, JSW Defence aims to foster strategic global collaborations by establishing global production hubs and introducing net-new technologies to fuel advancements in indigenous defence capabilities. This reinforces JSW Defence’s commitment to support India’s growth story by adding Defence to its nation-building commitment.