ASRAAM
MBDA is proud to
celebrate Indian Air Force day 2024 as a steadfast partner of the IAF in
defence of India’s skies.
India and MBDA share a
long history of partnership in equipping the Indian Air Force going back to the
early days of air to air missiles. Throughout its history the Indian Air Force
has relied upon MBDA’s missile systems to provide the latest air combat
performance across a number of different aircraft types.
MBDA today has two
focuses providing the highest performing missile technologies to the Indian
Armed Forces, and secondly supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat as part of MBDA’s
longstanding partnership strategy with India.
With a strong
reputation as a reliable partner that has supported the Indian Air Force for
over 50 years, European missile firm MBDA understands the importance of
operational capability and sovereignty to the IAF. For these reasons, the
company has strongly committed to Make in India to deliver both industrial
sovereignty and the best of military equipment to India. Over this time, many
tens of thousands of MBDA designed missiles have been built in India and we
continue to deepen and deliver on new programmes.
Today MBDA is working
closely across the Indian defence ecosystem to deliver these two strategic
pillars – deliver on Atmanirbhar Bharat while providing world best technologies
to equip the serving personnel of the Indian Air Force.
MICA
Indian firms now supply
key components for key new missiles that are enhancing the combat power of the
IAF. For example, by Indian industry today to extensive manufacturing of 15
major subassemblies of MICA missile covering various complex technologies such
as mechanical, electrical, electromechanical and pyrotechnic items. MBDA
continues to deepen its relationship with Indian industry, as seen by the
formation of a joint venture with long standing partner Larsen & Toubro to
deliver a series of important missile programmes under the Make in India
category.
IAF
Jaguar with ASRAAM (Photo: VAYU)
The IAF is also getting
a major boost with the addition of the ASRAAM as its Next Generation Close
Combat Missile. MBDA and its longstanding Indian partner BDL are establishing a
new facility in Hyderabad to assemble and test this potent air combat missile. With
its large rocket motor and clean aerodynamic design, ASRAAM has unrivalled
speed and resultant aerodynamic manoeuvrability and range. ASRAAM gives it a
high kinematic capability that delivers superior end game performance for
within visual range air combat.
Article
by Ludovic Dumont, General Delegate, MBDA India Private Limited