Centum to produce MADRAS voice and data recorders in India for L-3 Aviation Products Group

Posted by John McHale
PHOENIX, 11 Feb. 2011. L-3's Aviation Products Group announced that its Modular Airborne Data Recording/Acquisition System (MADRAS) voice and data recorder will be the first L-3 product produced by the Centum Group for the Indian market. This is part of a product cooperation agreement announced previously between the Bangalore, India-based company and L-3 Aviation Products Group (L-3 APG).
The MADRAS integrates voice and data recording with built-in data acquisition into a single box solution for military and commercial aircraft.
L-3 Aviation Recorders will look to United Avionics, Inc., its long-time authorized technical support provider in India, to assist by providing on-site technical support.
"We're moving forward with plans to grow our presence in India," says Mike Smith, president of L-3 Aviation Recorders, one of the four divisions that comprise L-3 APG. "To properly supply the Indian market and maintain our position as the leader in flight data recorders, we need to manufacture our products in-country, and the MADRAS is just the first. With this relationship, we are leveraging India’s fast-growing knowledge-base in aviation and technology to help us expand in India and internationally."
"Centum is excited at the speed with which this association with L-3 is progressing, and we are pleased to announce the launch of MADRAS production," says Apparao Mallavarapu, managing director of Centum Group. "This product launch is the first step towards Centum widening its product and service portfolio in the aerospace and defense markets and bringing more world-leading L-3 products to the Indian market."
L-3 APG is comprised of four divisions: ACSS -- an L-3 and Thales joint venture company, Avionics Systems, Aviation Recorders, and Electrodynamics, Inc. Its wide array of products for commercial and civil airframes includes traffic (TCAS) and terrain collision avoidance (TAWS) systems, weather mapping systems, voice, and data recorders, and standby instruments. The MADRAS is an L-3 Aviation Recorders product.
L-3 is exhibiting at Aero India 2011 in the U.S.-Indian Partnership Pavilion, February 9-13: Hall E, Space E15a. Centum has MADRAS and other products on display at Aero India in Hall D, Space 3.