GAME-CHANGING WEAPONRY
MBDA: ‘Make-in-India’ commitments and Rafale weaponry at Aero India 2021
MBDA, the manufacturers of the Rafale’s game-changing weaponry, is showcasing its Make in India commitments during Aero India 2021. Notably MBDA’s stand in Hall B 3.4 features a display wall of missile system components ‘Made in India’ by the company’s large Indian industrial ecosystem. Also exhibiting in Hall B is L&T MBDA Missile Systems Ltd, MBDA’s joint venture with Larsen & Toubro, which will be displaying the systems offered to the Indian Armed Forces as well as its work on MICA missile launchers for the Indian Air Force’s new Rafale fighters.
MBDA is not new to partnership with the Indian Armed Forces and Indian industry, indeed it has been delivering battlewinning capabilities to the Indian Air Force and collaborating with Indian industry for over 50 years. Throughout this history, there have been two guiding principles: to provide the very best technologies for the Indian Air Force, and to work in true partnership in support of the Indian Defence Industry. The company then is fully committed to the ‘Make in India’ programme, which aligns with MBDA’s long-term strategy.
Aero India 2021 will also be a milestone year for MBDA, marking the first exhibition where Indian Air Force-operated Rafale fighter aircraft will be present. MBDA is well known as manufacturer of the weaponry that makes Rafale such a potent airborne force. Perhaps the best known is the ramjet-powered and network-enabled
Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile from MBDA. This next generation missile is widely recognised as a game changer for air combat, and will provide the Indian Air Force with an unrivalled air dominance capability. Key to this is Meteor’s throttleable ramjet engine, active radar seeker and datalink that combine to
provide unmatched end-game speed and manoeuvrability at greatly extended ranges, resulting in its all-important ‘No-Escape Zone’ which is more than three times greater than any other existing or planned BVR weapons.
Also arming India’s Rafales is the SCALP deep strike cruise missile, which is no less game-changing than the Meteor. SCALP has proved itself unerring with its unmatched ability to combine very long range with devastating target effect on even the most hardened of military infrastructure during combat operations. Its long-range enables it to be fired at extended standoff ranges, beyond the reach of hostile air defence systems or altogether even outside hostile airspace.
Other examples of technological edge weapons equipping the Indian Air Force are the MICA and ASRAAM within visual range (or dogfighting) missiles. MICA arms both the Rafale and Mirage 2000 and is the only missile in the world featuring two interoperable seekers (active radar and imaging infrared) to cover the spectrum from close-in dogfight to long beyond visual range.
ASRAAM is providing the IAF’s Jaguar fleet with a step-change in air combat performance. 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. MBDA’s ASRAAM missiles are significantly enhancing the battle capability India’s Jaguar strike aircraft giving them unrivalled self-protection ability and enhanced ability to penetrate hostile airspace.
However, industrial partnership is of equal importance given the vitality of sovereign industrial defence capability. MBDA has been assisting the development of sovereign Indian missile industry, both public and private, for over 50 years. Partnerships the MBDA has formed with Indian industry have resulted in over 40,000 missiles of the MILAN family produced in India – a noteworthy and on-going success. Key components for both MICA and ASRAAM missile systems are made in India, and a selection of Indian-made components are on display in a special Make in India display area on the company’s stand.
The Mistral ATAM system has been successfully integrated on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and final integration is being done on the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). Utilisation of the Mistral missile on India’s helicopter platforms also provides a bridge to their use in a ground based VSHORAD role, where the missile is fully compliant with India’s requirements and outperforms the capabilities of its rivals.
MBDA has an excellent track record providing both operational and industrial capabilities in partnership with the Indian Air Force and India’s Defence Industry. The strength of these two pillars make it a long-term true partnership, and one that should only continue to get stronger.