NEW DELHI: BAE Systems and Wipro have signed an agreement to work jointly on commercial aerospace projects. The arrangement follows a memorandum of agreement signed by BAE Systems and Wipro in June. In a partnership spanning BAE Systems' operations in Johnson City, New York, and Rochester, UK, and Wipro Technologies operations in Hyderabad and Bangalore, the companies will combine efforts on the design of subsystems for the air transport and business jet markets.

They will also cooperate on developing subsystems for aircraft engines. The agreement also establishes technical development centres in Hyderabad and Bangalore, the first step in a partnership that could see the two companies cooperating globally in the defence and aerospace markets. "We assessed a number of companies across the globe for this role, and Wipro was the most capable and offered the best business model," said Mike Mendoza, BAE Systems' managing director in India .

"In Wipro we have an internationally renowned company with excellent technical capabilities." "This vital strategic partnership combines the strengths of two high-performing organizations, enabling us to better serve current customers and the emerging Indian defence and aerospace market," said Dave Herr, vice president of commercial avionics for BAE Systems.

Through the agreement, a number of Wipro staff will be based with BAE Systems in the UK and U.S. Work has started in Johnson City, with Wipro staff already onsite, and activity will begin at BAE Systems in Rochester before the end of the year.