MBDA Waiting For India’s Nod To Begin SR-SM Misiile Production

European missile manufacturer MBDA is waiting for permission from India's Defense Ministry to finalize its negotiation with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on naval air defense missile.

“Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SR-SAM) is at very final stage, we have addressed all the topics linked to design, work share, future production, content of technology transfer (ToT)” Loic Piedevache, country head India of MBDA group, said during workshop organized on missile technologies for Indian armed forces.

“All this has been discussed with customer, DRDO and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)," he said. "Now we need final green light from Ministry of Defense to finalize our discussion and negotiation with DRDO," Loic was quoted as saying by Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) Friday.

DRDO is major organization responsible for the design and development of the SRSAM for the Indian Navy, meanwhile BDL is the ministry's missile production enterprise.

DRDO is the designer of the complete system, BDL is the production agency and MBDA is a strategic partner bringing its expertise and ToT of crucial items of the SR-SAM." Loic said on the partnership arrangement for the under-development missile.

First deliveries will start in three years after signing the contract and all the deliveries will be completed within five years, he added.

The missile has been designed for range longer than the required range of 15 kms. The design has been done to go for higher range of 40 plus km.

SR-SAM is considered crucial for defending ship at high sea against the anti-ship missiles and aircraft.