New Delhi : As Indian Air Force appears to be happy with the indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile weapon system – the Indo-French proposed joint venture to
develop short range air
defence missiles seems to have run into rough weather.
The IAF feels that when the indigenous system meets the requirements of the force, then there is no requirement for importing or co-developing a similar system, they said. As per the proposed project, the IAF had to induct 49 Missile Firing Units of the co-developed missiles.
The proposed joint venture worth Rs.30,000 cr planned between DRDO and the French missile manufacturer MBDA under which they were planning to produce short-range surface-to-air missile (SR-SAM) systems for the IAF for the Maitri programme is likely to be cancelled.
The Akash air defence missile system has already been developed by the DRDO indigenously and its development trials were completed successfully by the agency in Odisha recently. The SR-SAM is also planned to be a project in the same class, highly placed sources said.
The IAF has already placed orders for eight squadrons of the Akash surface-to-air missile and it would require to place orders for another 25 squadrons of the weapon systems to meet its complete requirement of air defence missiles of this range, the sources said.
The induction would also save a lot of foreign exchange and help in expanding the indigenous missile production industry in view of the large orders to be placed, they said. The negotiations for the SR-SAM project were started in 2007-08 and it was discussed in detail in parleys between the Indian and French government at highest levels during visits by senior dignitaries to each other’s country.
RR not to be backlisted
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry has decided against blacklisting British engine manufacturer Rolls Royce and allowed the armed forces to do business related to essential requirements with the firm. This follows the Attorney General’s opinion which favoured that IAF and the Navy can procure systems essential for their maintenance and operational requirements of the two services, Defence Ministry sources said.
