MBDA Commitments on ‘Make in India’
MBDA, the maker of the Rafale’s game-changing weaponry, showcased its Make in India commitments during Aero India 2021. MBDA exhibited a full range of missiles and missile systems designed to provide next generation air combat capabilities, including air dominance, strike and maritime engagement for the Indian Air Force.
Notably MBDA’s stand featured a display wall of missile system components Made in India by the company’s large Indian industrial ecosystem. Also exhibiting in the same Hall B was L&T MBDA Missile Systems Ltd, MBDA’s joint venture with Larsen & Toubro, which displayed the systems it has offered to the Indian Armed Forces as well as its work on MICA missile launchers for the Indian Air Force’s new Rafale fighter aircraft.
Air Dominance
The Meteor is MBDA’s ramjet–powered and network-enabled beyond visual range air-to-air missile, which is widely recognised as a game changer for air combat.
At Aero India 2021, MBDA also had its SCALP which is being delivered for the Indian Air Force’s Rafale aircraft.
ASRAAM is being delivered to the IAF as its new generation close combat missile programme. ASRAAM will arm the IAF’s upgraded Jaguar fleet and potentially other IAF platforms. Also, the MICA is being delivered for the IAF’s Mirage 2000 upgrade and for the Rafale.
Mistral ATAM has been delivered to India to equip the weaponised version of the Advanced Light Helicopter, the ALH Rudra. The same system has successfully undergone integration on the LCH platform also manufactured by HAL.
Battlefield Engagement
MMP is the only fifth generation antitank missile available in the world, designed for dismounted infantry as well as for integration on combat vehicles. The technologies pioneered in MMP will be further developed by ATGM5 in India for specific operational requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.
Maritime Superiority
Exocet is well known in India where the submarine variant, SM39, has been delivered to the Indian Navy to arm its Scorpene submarines (Project 75). The AM39 version can be launched from maritime patrol aircraft, strike fighters such as the Rafale as well as medium to heavyweight helicopters.
Sea Ceptor is the next-generation, ship-based, all-weather, air defence weapon system. Sea Ceptor utilises the CAMM missile that will protect both the host ship and high value units in the local area.
Marte is a family of fixed and rotary wing and ship-launched anti-ship missile weapon systems designed to meet operational requirements in complex littoral environments and blue water scenarios. At Aero India 2021, MBDA displayed Marte ER, the latest addition to the family.