Interview | General Delegate India, MBDA, Boris Solomiac |October 2021

What are MBDA’s ongoing projects with the Indian Air Force?

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is already a customer for the most advanced air launched missiles made by MBDA, including Meteor, SCALP, MICA and ASRAAM. ASRAAM is being delivered to the IAF as its New Generation Close Combat Missile programme. MICA is part of the upgrade package for the IAF’s Mirage 2000 aircraft, but also arms the IAF’s new Rafale fighter jets. The SCALP deep-strike cruise missile from MBDA will also be equipped on India’s Rafales. The most famous of the weapons that MBDA is providing the IAF for its Rafales is probably the Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, which is widely recognised as a game changer for air combat.

MBDA recently tied up with BDL for the Indian Missile Development Unit. What potential does MBDA see in this project and what work will be undertaken?

MBDA recently signed a licence agreement with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the final assembly, integration and test (FAIT) of ASRAAM. The agreement further strengthens the long and highly successful collaboration of over four decades between the companies on various missile programmes. Work on establishing the FAIT capability in India has already commenced and it is expected to become operational by 2022-23. Under the licensing agreement, MBDA will transfer the equipment and knowledge to BDL for establishing a manufacturing facility in India.

IAF’s has chosen MBDA missiles for its fighters such Rafales, Mirage, Jaguar among others. How will these missiles improve combat capabilities