With the increasing focus on indigenous R&D and production, do you envisage a possibility of your JV with L&T also engaging in research and development?

For the last several years MBDA has been working hard to support and deliver Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Our joint venture with Larsen & Toubro, L&T MBDA Missile Systems Limited, is a key part of this for both local production and local development.

What progress has the JV made since it came into being?

L&T MBDA Missile Systems Limited has already set up a facility in Coimbatore that is manufacturing and delivering equipment today for the Indian armed forces. In addition, L&TMMSL is bidding on three programmes for the Indian armed forces at present: it has offered the vertical launch Sea Ceptor air defence system for the Indian Navy’s SRSAM requirement, Exocet MM40 for the Indian’s Navy’s medium range anti-ship missile requirement and is offering an anti-tank missile as a Make in India programme.

Given the government acquisition policies, what is your focus in India, both in the medium and the long term?

MBDA is a committed partner with the Indian armed forces with a long and close history of cooperation in the field of missile technologies with India. We have extensive industrial roots and partnerships within the Indian defence industry and together we have been making missiles in India for over 50 years. For the last several years, MBDA has been working hard to further deepen these as part of