In a boost to the Make in India, the country’s largest unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer, Raphe mPhibr, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the German defense giant Hensoldt. The partnership aims to co-develop advanced landing aid radar using Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology for next-generation aviation platforms.
The partnership, formalised at Aero India 2025, is not only a boost for the Make in India initiative, but also crucial for Germany-India defence cooperation.
Make in India aims to encourage companies to develop, manufacture, and assemble products within the country. The goal is to incentivise dedicated investments in manufacturing.
The policy focuses on creating a favourable environment for investment, developing modern and efficient infrastructure, and opening up new sectors to foreign capital.
Hensoldt is Germany-based company that develops solutions for defence and security applications. The German government has a 25 per cent stake in the company, which offers platform-independent, networked sensors and develops defence electronics and optronics.
As a partner of the German government, Hensoldt has a key role to play in expanding Indo-German defence ties, especially given Berlin’s growing engagement in the Indo-Pacific and India’s increasing demand for advanced defence electronics.
Recently, Oliver Dörre, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of Hensoldt took to LinkedIn to say, “During my recent visit in India joining our Chancellor Olaf Scholz and a German Federal Government Delegation I confirmed that India is among the Top 5 countries/regions where Hensoldt searches international growth.”
Raphe mPhibr will lead research and development efforts to transform MIMO– an advanced system that enhances data transmission and radar capabilities– into practical solutions for unmanned drones and manned aircraft.
Vivek Mishra, CEO of Raphe mPhibr, said that by integrating Raphe’s design and manufacturing prowess with Hensoldt’s sensor expertise, the two firms are establishing “a globally competitive MIMO solution.”
Building on the MIMO initiative, the two firms inked a second MoU to localise production of Hensoldt’s advanced sensor payloads in India.
The initiative seeks to create a co-production facility to enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities and fulfill global demand.
Hensoldt Group Global Business Head Russell Gould remarked praised Raphe’s infrastructure, saying it is on par with global benchmarks. “Their agility complements our vision for scalable, high-tech solutions.”
Andleeb Shadman, Managing Director of Hensoldt India put the full force of India-Germany defence cooperation in focus. “This isn’t just about technology– it’s about trust,” he said, adding, “India’s market potential and Raphe’s design and execution excellence make this a win for global security infrastructure.”
The progression of German-Indian defence ties via Hensoldt and Aero India 2025 did not stop there, though.
The German giant also inked a memorandum with India’s Samtel Avionics (SA) to explore possibilities of establishing a co-production facility in India through an Industrial partnership for the Hensoldt’s Products – LCR 100, Cavi Sight and Cavi Connect.
These indigenised solutions, which range from advanced visual landing aids and secure airborne communication systems to lightweight flight data recorders, are tailored for the Indian requirements in partnership with Samtel. The products are dual-use, meaning that they have implications for both civilian and military aviation domain in India.
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In a boost to Make In India, German defence tech firm signs MoU with India’s largest drone maker
