Skull and Bones
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Contenders for the Indian Armys Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORAD) requirement presented their respective offerings at the Aero India exhibition as a downselect decision nears.
Both MBDA and Saab displayed their missile systems, the Mistral MANPADS and RBS-70 NG respectively, at the show in Bangalore. It is believed that Rosoboronexport is also bidding for the award.
The companies are awaiting a decision on the downselect for the programme, with MBDA claiming to have completed live firing for the army and Saab saying its tests are still on-going.
Saabs RBS-70 NG is a beam riding system with a Hard 3D short range radar attached to it alongside a C2 system and battery commander terminal. It fires within an 8km range at an altitude of 5km, which exceeds the Indian requirement, according to the company.
Mats Johansson, marketing director for Saab India Technologies, explained that it takes some five seconds to reload the missile and the system is man-portable.
Of the three systems, the others are fire and forget, Johansson explained. They therefore have a seeker at the front of the system that can be easily jammed. We offer a beam ridden system that is much more difficult to fool.
However, MBDA considers its fire and forget concept to be an advantage.
The problem with that [beam riding] is that it takes a fair bit of skill across range, Mati Hindrekus, marketing communications managers for the company, told Shephard. A little twitch off target is magnified to several hundred metres. In our opinion this is not an ideal solution.
Hindrekus explained that the missile can be loaded in a few seconds, which is a benefit in a VSHORAD environment because operators do not have much time before the missile hits the target and has to be quickly reloaded.
The Indian forces have already purchased the Mistral as it is due to be mounted on the Dhruv light attack helicopter, which will add benefits in terms of the logistics chain if it were selected for VSHORAD.
Johansson said that Saabs bid was submitted in March 2012, and we can only guess when a decision is going to be made regarding a downselect.
Aero India 2013: VSHORAD contenders square off - News - Shephard
RBS NG
Mistral MANPAD
Both MBDA and Saab displayed their missile systems, the Mistral MANPADS and RBS-70 NG respectively, at the show in Bangalore. It is believed that Rosoboronexport is also bidding for the award.
The companies are awaiting a decision on the downselect for the programme, with MBDA claiming to have completed live firing for the army and Saab saying its tests are still on-going.
Saabs RBS-70 NG is a beam riding system with a Hard 3D short range radar attached to it alongside a C2 system and battery commander terminal. It fires within an 8km range at an altitude of 5km, which exceeds the Indian requirement, according to the company.
Mats Johansson, marketing director for Saab India Technologies, explained that it takes some five seconds to reload the missile and the system is man-portable.
Of the three systems, the others are fire and forget, Johansson explained. They therefore have a seeker at the front of the system that can be easily jammed. We offer a beam ridden system that is much more difficult to fool.
However, MBDA considers its fire and forget concept to be an advantage.
The problem with that [beam riding] is that it takes a fair bit of skill across range, Mati Hindrekus, marketing communications managers for the company, told Shephard. A little twitch off target is magnified to several hundred metres. In our opinion this is not an ideal solution.
Hindrekus explained that the missile can be loaded in a few seconds, which is a benefit in a VSHORAD environment because operators do not have much time before the missile hits the target and has to be quickly reloaded.
The Indian forces have already purchased the Mistral as it is due to be mounted on the Dhruv light attack helicopter, which will add benefits in terms of the logistics chain if it were selected for VSHORAD.
Johansson said that Saabs bid was submitted in March 2012, and we can only guess when a decision is going to be made regarding a downselect.
Aero India 2013: VSHORAD contenders square off - News - Shephard
RBS NG
Mistral MANPAD
