MBDA at Defexpo 2020: “Making in India”

Defexpo 2020 hosts exciting developments from MBDA (at Hall 4, Stand R16) as it continues to expand and deliver on its vision to ‘Make in India’.  A particular highlight isthat L&T MBDA Missile Systems Ltd has submitted its first bid to the Indian Armed Forces – offering Sea Ceptor, the latest generation naval air defence system – in its RFP response for the Indian Navy’s Short-Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) requirement with the aim to ‘Make in India’. This development comes soon in the JV’s history, which only made its debut at the previous edition of Defexpo in 2018. 

This year is particularly noteworthy also as it sees the arrival in India of the first Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force, which will be armed with a game changing set of weapons from MBDA including the SCALP deep strike and Meteor air-to-air missile. 

MBDA has been actively working in partnership with the Indian government and industry to build India’s defence industrial capabilities for over 50 years. MBDA is recognised world-wide as an absolute leader in the field of missile technologies. Itis also recognised as being the only truly integrated multi-national company in the defence sector – co-operation is in their DNA in a way that is unique in the defence sector, and particularly in the field of missiles. This makes their uniquely able to partner with India, to work with the DRDO, the Indian MoD, and to support the development of India’s public and private defence-industrial capabilities. 

“We have the technological knowhow needed to transform India’s industry, we have the experience of making partnerships work for the long-term, but most importantly, we also have the right attitude–we view our relationship as one of true partners, not of buyer and seller”.

“To deliver this we have a dedicated and strong industrial cooperation and offset (ICO) team that works solely on partnerships with India. This MBDA ICO team has delivered extensive and significant transfers of technology to develop India’s defence-industrial capabilities. This includes the manufacturing by Indian industry of 15 major subassemblies of MICA missile covering various complex technologies such as mechanical, electrical, electromechanical and pyrotechnic items. Similar transfers to build India’s defence-industrial capabilities have also occurred on the Mistral and ASRAAM missiles, including ToT for setting up industrial capabilities, complete missile integration and final assembly and test”. 

L&T MBDA Missile Systems Ltd is a key channel for MBDA in delivering the next generation of complex weapons capabilities to the Indian Armed Forces and developing the capabilities of India’s defence industry in the complex weapons sector. L&T MBDA Missile Systems Ltd will again have its own unique stand and will be showcasing a number of products, including SRSAM, ATGM5 and Exocet MM40 B3.

One of the key examples of this is ATGM5 that will be designed and manufactured in India to meet India’s specific operational requirements. ATGM5 will draw on the next generation technologies of the MMP battlefield anti-tank weapon that already entered service in France. ATGM5 will be a true Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) product, involving the transfer of next generation key technologies to India, boosting the domestic defence industry sector. A new functional simulator for ATGM5 is making its debut here at Defexpo 2020. 

Exocet MM40 Block 3 is the latest version of the famous Exocet missile family, and includes the replacement of the missile’s traditional rocket motor with a turbojet to extend the range of the system to beyond 200 km, while the missile’s already excellent navigation system has seen further enhancements. As the Indian Armed Forces already operate SM 39, which is part of the Exocet family, it is a logical step to also use Exocet in other operational areas. In doing so, it would provide significant operational, logistics and training advantages. MM40 Exocet Block 3 is being offered by L&T MBDA Missile Systems Ltd in response to India’s RFI for the Medium Range Anti-Ship Missile, and is present on the stand of L&T MBDA Missile Systems Ltd. 

As one would expect, MBDA is exhibiting a full range of missiles and missile systems portfolio on its own stand that could be of interest to India and other countries across the main defence domains: air, land and sea. 

LoïcPiedevache, India Country Head, MBDA