India is globally recognized for its cutting-edge defense & aerospace capabilities. From $10 billion in 2016, aerospace & defense in India is expected to reach $23 billion, indicating a steady growth pace. At Dassault Systèmes, we are eager to contribute meaningfully to the evolution of this sector powered by our flagship 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. To that end, we are presenting at DEFEXPO 2020, showcasing how digital continuity powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform could help to transform the country’s aerospace and defense capabilities. Fittingly, the theme for this year’s event (held between 5th and 8th of February in Lucknow) is “Digital Transformation of Defense.”
The last edition of DEFEXPO witnessed 50+ bilateral meetings, the signing of 40 MOUs, and participation from 700+ exhibitors. We were excited to kickstart Day 1 of DEFEXPO, starting with an inauguratory seminar on the “Application of Contemporary Technologies in Strategic Programs” by ASSOCHAM. Across the day, our experts were at booth no. S17 to showcase the transformative power of the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform to OEMs, suppliers, partners, and public sector agencies.
Key Demos at DEFEXPO 2020
Our booth offers DEFEXPO visitors an interactive view of the digital transformation journey in aerospace & defense. On the 5th of February, Dassault Systèmes’ expert, Ravikiran POTHUKUCHI, Industry Leader for Aerospace & Defense, was at the booth to present bespoke experiences designed specifically for this sector.
The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform delivers industry solutions that let airframe OEMs, aerospace suppliers, and defense organizations accelerate innovation while ensuring time, cost, and scheduling efficiency. At booth no. S17, we shared a real-world example of how Safran recorded productivity gains of up to 30% and delivered products to market on time while simultaneously ensuring zero-defect design.
Other success stories on display include manufacturing operations management (MOM) for Airbus helicopters, and cost reduction for Safran Electronics & Defense. All of this is part of our industry solution experiences– Co-design to Target, Program Excellence, Ready for Rate, and Build to Operate – available at DEFEXPO 2020.
Apart from these, some of the important showcases at the Dassault Systèmes booth on Day 1 included:
- Virtual reality POD – We exhibited our VR solutions that simplify operations in a variety of business scenarios. For instance, users can conduct hands-on design reviews, simulate complex assembly mechanisms, and even train to build the workforce of the future – all from a virtual environment.
- Reinvent the Sky industry solution – This is geared for growth-focused aerospace & defense companies, letting them scale up with ease. Reinvent the Sky addresses scalability challenges like increasing complexity and fragmentation in the supply chain network that’s faced by companies during expansion.
- Project management for engineering use cases – We exhibited our solutions to transform engineering in the aerospace & defense sector. These cover the entire value chain, from concept ideation and design simulation, to manufacturing, product quality checks, and operations.
Recognition from Government Delegates at DEFEXPO 2020
We were delighted to receive widespread recognition and acclaim from the aerospace & defense luminaries who visited on Day 1. Mr. M Gautham Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Commerce, and IT, Government of Andhra Pradesh was there to share his vision for the digital transformation of defense in India and the progress made so far. He shared several interesting insights on the aerospace & defense vision originating from his home state.
During his session, Mr. Reddy highlighted the ongoing partnership between Dassault Systèmes and the Andhra Pradesh government, centered on skill development and the workforce of the future. Dassault Systèmes helped to upskill two thousand young professionals in 2019, out of which 750 have already found gainful employment in the aerospace & defense sector, noted Mr. Reddy.
Sessions with Industry Leaders and Luminaries at DEFEXPO 2020
In addition to Mr. Reddy, several government dignitaries and officials visited our stalls, such as the French ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain.
Representatives from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) stopped by our booth to explore how the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform could prove instrumental in achieving India’s vision for digital transformation.
We explained how Reinvent the Sky leverages the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform to help disruptive aerospace & defense companies, simplify cross-functional collaboration and achieve digital continuity.
Retired Wing Commander, Satyam Khushwaha, also spoke to our experts about the Reinvent the Sky demo.
Wrapping Up Day 1 on a Note of Eager Anticipation
The biannual DEFEXPO event draws the world’s brightest minds in aerospace & defense, encouraging a productive exchange of ideas and insights. On Day 1, there were several seminars on technology applications and international partnership opportunities, live demonstrations by the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard, and of course, an exhilarating inaugural ceremony presided over by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.
“In the last five years India has made remarkable progress in indigenizing the production of military equipment under the Make in India initiative,” said the Hon’ble Prime Minister. “Digital transformation of defense is a subject very important for the future of the Indian military. Our aim is to develop 25 products based on artificial intelligence in the next 5 years,” he also mentioned, even as he spoke about a new mission to “Make in India, for India and for the world.”
As the day comes to close, we look forward to another round of enlightening dialogue, tomorrow at DEFEXPO 2020.
