HCL flies high with Smiths development deal

HCL Technologies has entered into a relationship with Smiths Aerospace to run a development centre in India, opening today.

The Indian IT services company will provide Smiths with engineering and IT services from a dedicated team of 60 staff, soon rising to 150.

Smiths Aerospace provides mechanical systems and equipment for all major aircraft and engine manufacturers, with annual global revenues of $2.4bn.

The deal is "another key win" for HCL in the aerospace sector, according to Ramesh Pillai, an aeropsace practice director for HCL.

Postcards from the bleeding edge…

Read the latest missive from tech guru and silicon.com columnist, Peter Cochrane, as he blogs from around the world.

The move further delivers on HCL's plans to partner with aerospace companies for the long term.

Speaking at an event last autumn, Rajeev Sawhney, corporate VP for HCL GB, said the company had discussed agreements in aerospace where it is paid every time a plane is sold.

This kind of agreement would require a horizon of as long as 25 years, and Sawhney asked: "Which Indian player ever thought beyond three years?"