MBDA, fully integrated European company, had a strong presence at Defexpo and had several meetings with a few Indian companies and officials on taking the partnership further. MBDA displayed its Mistral MANPAD system awaiting a decision on the Indian Army’s very short-range air defence system (VSHORADS) programme.

MBDA also showcased the entire family of Exocet missiles, which included the surface, submarine and air-launched variants. The Exocet SM39 has been ordered for India’s Scorpene submarines. The company also had discussions with the Indian Army to offer its Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP) anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW). The company has developed the MMP missile to meet French Army requirements, receiving a contract for 2,850 missiles in December 2013 and it believes that it will be a good fit for the Indian requirement.

With discussions having been concluded and a decision expected shortly to proceed with a short-range surface to air weapon to fill a recognised capability gap within the Indian Air Force and Navy, a full scale model of the SR-SAM missile took pride of place on the company’s stand. Often referred to as MAITRI, this programme sees MBDA supporting the DRDO and represents the cornerstone of MBDA’s long-term partnership and cooperation strategy in India. Displayed for the first time in India, the weapon system represents a major advance for the battlefield. This weapon, MMP is being developed as a highly advanced successor to the successful MILAN with a range of important features placing it well beyond the capabilities of the competition.

MBDA was clearly focused on its presentation at Defexpo having divided into four distinct areas: ground-based air defence, combat aircraft weapons, maritime superiority and battlefield systems. Each area featured the latest advances in their respective domains and together demonstrated MBDA’s unique status as the only company in the sector with a product catalogue capable of meeting the guided weapons requirements of all three armed services.