BDL, MBDA to set up short range air-to-air missile facility in India

Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) said that it is joining forces with the British subsidiary of European missiles manufacturer MBDA for setting up an advanced short range air-to-air missile facility (ASRAAM facility) in India.

In this connection, the parties have inked a licencing agreement for the facility, which will be engaged in the final assembly, integration, and testing of advanced short range air-to-air missiles.

As per the terms of the licensing agreement, MBDA will transfer the equipment as well as knowledge to BDL for setting up the missile facility.

BDL said that work on installing the capability in India is slated to begin immediately and is likely to start operations by 2022-23.

The Indian government owned company said that ASRAAM is one of the Within Visual Range missiles available, which will be manufactured at its Bhanur unit near Hyderabad for domestic and export purposes in future through MBDA.

BDL, MBDA to set up advanced short range air-to-air missile facility in India. Photo courtesy of Bharat Dynamics Limited.

George Kyriakides — MBDA International Industrial Cooperation Director said: “We are very pleased to be establishing this new ASRAAM facility in India with BDL. MBDA has a long and highly successful history of working with BDL for over fourdecades, a partnership that has seen BDL manufacture large number of MBDA-designed Milan missiles in India.”

The new BDL ASRAAM facility will also be able to carry out maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of ASRAAM missiles. Besides, it can be adapted to perform final assembly, integration, and testing of MBDA’s CAMM missile. The CAMM missile is used by the Sea Ceptor naval air defence system that has been provided as Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) requirement.

Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retd) — CMD of BDL said that signing of the licencing agreement strengthens the commitment of the company to contribute towards ‘Make in India and the ‘Atmanirbhar’ initiatives of the Indian government in the defence sector.

Last month, BDL won a contract worth INR 499 crores from the Indian Ministry of Defence to manufacture and deliver Akash missiles for the Indian Air Force (IAF).