Thales will provide India Air Defense Missiles

Thales will provide the Indian army with a very short -range air defense missiles with a technology transfer which will allow their manufacture in India to the tune of 60 %, the French group announced in a press release.

Thales and the Indian public company Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) signed a contract on Tuesday for the supply of portable air defense systems LBRM (Laser Beam Riding Manpad) “in continuity with the partnership agreement signed in 2021 between Thales and BDL for these systems with the support of Indian and British governments, ”explains the document.

The partnership is part of the Make In India initiative, launched in 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen the national defense industry by encouraging foreign companies to produce in India.

The contract will increase the production capacities of the United Kingdom on the Thales site in Belfast, which ensures the design of the LBRM system.

India seeks to reduce its historical dependence on Russia by diversifying its sources of defense supply.

France has provided India from advanced military equipment, including scorpene class submarines and burst fighter planes.

The two countries collaborate in the development and production of defense equipment, promoting technology transfer and co -development of military systems.