Vayu: Can you briefly highlight the salient features of the MBDA Missiles Package for the
Rafale Omni-Role Fighter and Rafale-Marine Variant, including the
'game-changing' Meteor BVRAAM, MICA Variants, Scalp Cruise Missile and the air launched
Exocet AM39, and elaborate on their specific combat roles?
India's Dassault Rafale combat aircraft provide the Indian Air Force
not just with a fast and agile modern fighter but one that comes armed with a
highly potent set of weapons from MBDA that are unrivalled by any of India's
neighbours. The most famous of these weapons is the Meteor beyond visual range
air-to-air missile, which is widely recognised as a game changer for air
combat. The Meteor is powered by a unique rocket ramjet motor that gives Meteor
far more engine power, for much longer than any other missile. This means it
can fly faster, fly longer, and manoeuvre more than any other missile – giving
Meteor the ability to chase down and destroy agile hostile fighters at even the
furthers of ranges. As a result, Meteor has a no-escape zone many times greater
than any other air-to-air missile. India's Rafale are also be equipped with the
Scalp deep strike cruise missile from MBDA to strike hardened and protected
targets deep inside hostile territory. The IAF's Rafale are also be equipped
with MICA, a missile the Indian Air Force knows very well as it is also part of
the upgrade package for the IAF's Mirage 2000 aircraft. MBDA is also proposing
these weapons and the famous Exocet AM39 anti-ship missile for the Rafale M for
the new Indian aircraft carrier.
Vayu: Can you update us on the integration for
Wing-Top launch of the ASRAAM for the IAF's Jaguar Upgrade programme and the
MICA Missiles for the upgraded Mirage 2000 weapons package?
Alongside delivery for new IAF platforms, MBDA is also able to
delivery major capability enhancements to the existing platforms of the Indian
Air Force. The Mirage 2000 upgrade and the Jaguar upgrade programme are two
notable examples of this. Here MBDA has delivered MICA air combat missiles for
the Mirage 2000 upgrade, and has delivered ASRAAM missiles to upgrade the air
combat capabilities of the Jaguar fighter fleet. These also boost the IAF's
inventory and stockpile management, for MICA is now used across both the Mirage
2000 and Rafale fleet; while ASRAAM is to be used on Jaguar, Tejas and
potentially further platforms in the future.