Surat: Larsen & Toubro has shortlisted Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat to set up its missile-integrated facility at an investment of around Rs 500 crore, in a joint venture with French company MBDA, one of the world’s largest exporters of missile systems. Jayant D Patil, Whole Time Director (Defence Business), L&T shared this information with media persons after the launch of Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) 1 for the Indian Coast Guard.

Patil said L&T has the capability to build a full-fledged battle tank, which will be built at the company’s new tank-building factory at Hazira in Gujarat. India’s first 155-52 calibre gun will be delivered from Hazira plant by end of this financial year, he said.

L&T also hopes to get orders for the Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle, for which a decision is likely to be announced by the government soon, he said.

Patil said a total of nearly Rs 1,000 crore would be spent for setting up the missile integration facility and Hazira factory.

“We have so far invested around Rs 8,000 crore on defence-related manufacturing facilities. We do not expect to invest more in this sector. We have done 10-15 times more investment than anybody else [except one or two shipyards],” he said.