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ASRAAM, Mistral close air combat missiles to be made in India

ASRAAM set to be the common dogfighting weapon for IAF's Jaguar, Su-30MKI and LCA Tejas fleets

September 21, 2019 By Vishal Thapar Photo(s): By MBDA
The Jaguars will be the first IAF fighters to be armed with the ASRAAM

With the Indian Air Force (IAF) set to acquire the Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) as a common dogfighting weapon across its fighter fleet, European missile manufacturer MBDA has signed an MoU with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to assemble this missile in India.

The MoU was signed at DSEI in London on September 12 between MBDA's director of international industrial cooperation George Kyriakides and CMD of BDL Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retired).

The agreement is "for the final assembly, integration and test (FAIT) of Mistral and ASRAAM missiles in India," according to a statement released by MBDA. The armed Advanced Light Helicopter Rudra and the Light Combat Helicopter (ALH) are being armed with the Mistral ATAM air-to-air missile

The agreement is "for the final assembly, integration and test (FAIT) of Mistral and ASRAAM missiles in India," according to a statement released by MBDA. The armed Advanced Light Helicopter Rudra and the Light Combat Helicopter (ALH) are being armed with the Mistral ATAM air-to-air missile.

It has been widely reported that the IAF is integrating the ASRAAM as an over wing missile on its Jaguar fleet, and wants to arm its Sukhoi-30MKIs and the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) fleets with this close air combat weapon as well.

MBDA has a 50-year collaborative association with BDL as part of which about 50,000 missiles have been assembled in India

While the ASRAAM has been touted as a world-leader in the category of short-range missiles, the integration of the Mistral ATAM on the Rudra and LCH choppers has been completed. MBDA claims a success rate of 96 per cent in Mistral firings. The Mistral has also been offered for India's VSHORAD requirement.

The Mistral ATAM air-to-air missile has been integrated with the Rudra and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), and can be seen on the latter's wing pylon in this picture

MBDA has a 50-year collaborative association with BDL as part of which about 50,000 missiles have been assembled in India.

"This MoU marks the latest step on our true commitment to Make in India and our partnership with BDL, as we build the foundations for further new and exciting joint opportunities," MBDA's Kyriakides said.

The sentiment was echoed by Commodore Mishra of BDL. "We have enjoyed a long a fruitful relationship between Bharat Dynamics Limited and MBDA for many decades, and we so are very pleased to have signed this new agreement to deepen our strategic relationship for the future," he said.