Also noteworthy will be the Exocet anti-ship missile, with the SM39 submarine variant already delivered for the Indian Navy’s Scorpene submarines.
Even after two decades since the acquisition case, the Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) search has seen a system absent from trials and failing trials, being passed as technically compliant and ending up as, apparently, the cheapest. Also problematic is the difficulty its purchase could pose by provoking U.S. sanctions under their CAATSA.
Saab satisfied the weight requirements for the RBS70 followed by a curious interpretation of test results, while the MBDA Mistral has failed to comply with EMI EMC requirements.
Saab and Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd have announced plans to set up a joint venture for the production of the RBS 70 VSHORAD and Bamse SRSAM systems in India.
Rosoboronexport wrote to Indian evaluators saying that they did not feel it necessary to conduct a proper summer demonstration of their Igla-S VSHORAD system.
The French warship builder will be focusing on the Scorpene submarine and the Mistral-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), both of which are on offer to the Indian Navy in future acquisitions.
Daniel Petit describes MBDA’s missile systems on offer at Aero India 2013, including the ASRAAM, Meteor, MICA and the Mistral VSHORAD.
StratPost understands that four Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have been selected for the trials which will take place in India for an initial order estimated to be worth INR 27,000 crore (USD 5.4 billion) for over 800 launchers and over 5,000 missiles.
The French defense company MBDA is planning to display a wide range of weapons systems from its product line at DefExpo, including the Mistral VSHORAD, the Mistral ATAM for the Indian Army’s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv Mk IV WSI (Weapons System Integrated), as well as their PARS 3 LR anti-tank guided missile system, which is also being considered for the Dhruv.
Your correspondent was invited to visit an army aviation squadron in Jammu and Kashmir, to get a first hand feel of their functioning. Take a look at the operating routine of the 202 Army Aviation Squadron (UH), which operates the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
‘With Mistral having already won a competition to arm India’s ALH Dhruv helicopters, MBDA has also been keen to propose all the advantages that the missile offers as a ground-based air defense weapon’, calling the ‘supply logistics’, ‘service and maintenance benefits’ of a ‘multiple use missile’ to be ‘an added advantage’.
The Indian Ministry of Defense has opened bids for the tri-service purchase of Very Short Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) systems. The initial purchase of 5185 units is expected to be worth USD 5.8 billion (INR 26,000 crore).
