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Nod for short-range surface-to-air missile soon

sudhir007

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A final nod from the Indian government on the Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SR SAM) project is expected shortly. The project involves joint development of short-range surface-to-air missile for the three services by technology transfer from European MBDA in joint development with DRDO and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) as the production agency.

The announcement of completion of negotiations between the two governments was made in a joint statement during French President Francoise Hollande’s visit to India in February. Loic Piedevache, country head, MBDA, said, “We are expecting the project to be finalised very shortly. We look at India as a long-term strategic partner.”

The missile is to be developed in two variants — ship-based variant for the Navy and land-based for the Indian Army as well as the IAF.

The consortium’s another flagship project Milan 2T is expected to be further extended and contract for the same is likely to be signed “soon” according to Piedevache. “The modalities of production are still in discussion phase with BDL,” he said.

It may be noted that the Defence Acquisition Council recently approved procurement of additional Milan 2T portable anti-tank missiles for the infantry. This, when the original manufacturer has moved to a more advanced extended range (ER) version of the missile.

BDL has so far produced 1, 2 and 2T versions of the missile. The consortium’s PARS 3LR missile has also been one of the contenders for arming HAL’s Rudra platform along with Israel. While the field evaluation trials were completed about a year ago in Sweden, a final decision from the MoD and the Army is awaited. HAL had handed over the first weapon systems integrated version of ALH to the Army in Aero India 2013.

While the increasing importance to the strategic cooperation between India and France was further underlined during former foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai’s Paris visit in June that listed ‘defence’ as one of the pillars of strategic cooperation between the two nations, the DRDO in September 2011 had inked a deal with Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) for increased cooperation between the two nations.

The consortium which has been working with the British MoD on various funded missile projects has also made presentations to the Indian agencies according to its UK officials.
 
Soon?, since how long this project has been pending!..We have ben hearing about maitri SAM for at least 5 years now...
 

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