MBDA at DefExpo 2020: “Making in India”

LoïcPiedevache, India Country Head, MBDA, said that “MBDA has two exciting focuses during Defexpo 2020: providing the highest performing missile technologies to India, and secondly delivering on Make in India as part of our longstanding partnership strategy with India”. 

Defexpo 2020 is timely as it takes place just before arrival in India of the first Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force, which brings a truly game changing range of weapons from MBDA most notably the SCALP deep strike missile and the Meteor air-to-air missile. These are the highest performing missiles of their type available anywhere in the world, providing India the ability to strike deep at enemy targets and to totally dominate in air combat. 

MBDA has been actively working in partnership with India to build up the country’s defence industrial capabilities now for over 50 years. Over this period, many tens of thousands of MBDA- designed missiles have been built in India and we continue to deepen and deliver on new programmes. 

For example, there is extensive manufacturing by Indian industry of 15 major subassemblies of the MICA missile that arms both the IAF’s Mirage 2000 and the shortly arriving Rafale. Impressively these subassemblies cover a wide range of complex technologies such as hi-specification 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 for missile final assembly and integration testing. 

“The highlight of our focus to provide the best missile technologies to India and deliver on ‘Make in India’ is the news that L&T MBDA Missile Systems have submitted their first bid to the Indian Armed Forces; the JV’s offer of Sea Ceptor, latest generation of naval air defence system, in response to the Indian Navy’s Short-Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) requirement, and offered with the aim to ‘Make in India’. When you consider L&T MBDA Missile Systems just made its debut at the previous edition of Defexpo, onecan note the strength of our commitment and the level of investment made by MBDA to mature this joint venture at rapid pace. We will make further exciting announcements on the rapid development of L&T MBDA Missile Systems Ltd later this year.

Together, MBDA and L&T MBDA Missile Systems Ltd are presenting a comprehensive portfolio of many other high performance missile technologies at Defexpo 2020, however there are there particular systems to be highlighted: ATGM5, Exocet MM40 B3, and Mistral ATAM”. 

Drawing upon next generation technologies of the MMP battlefield anti-tank weapon as advanced successor to the highly successful Milan, the ATGM5 will be designed and manufactured in India to meet India’s specific operational requirements. It will be a true Indian designed, developed and manufactured (IDDM) product, involving the transfer of next generation key technologies to India, and boosting the Indian defence industry sector. 

The Exocet MM40 Block 3 is latest version of the well-known Exocet anti-ship missile family, with extended range of 200 km. The Indian Navy already operates the Exocet SM 39 from its submarines and would benefit from employs Exocet in other operational areas. 

The Mistral ATAM air-to-air missile launcher has been delivered to India to equip both the ALH and LCH. Mistral has proven itself a major success story with a 96% success rate in all firings. At Defexpo 2020, MBDA will exhibit this very high-performing missile also as a man portable air defence system (MANPADS), which has performed “exceptionally well in India’s firing trials”.