Ten days before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands in Paris on his first official visit, there’s going to be plenty on the table to announce. Moments ago, the Indian MoD cleared the decks for the revival of the all-but-stalled Indo-French SR-SAM (designated ‘Maitri’) programme. The MoD has instructed the DRDO to progress project discussions with MBDA to begin development for an SR-SAM system for the Indian Navy. As Livefist reported last month, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had received representations from both MBDA and the Indian Navy on moving ahead with the project. Here’s Livefist’s projection :
- The programme will now move ahead principally as a ship-borne SR-SAM system. Spin off variants for the IAF and Indian Army could presumably come later.
- MBDA says development will be complete in three years from agreement signature. Things could move quickly given that all workshare and other components of the partnership have already been decided.
- MBDA has represented to the DRDO that the Maitri programme could be plugged in for the Akash Mk.2. The precise modalities of that will need to be worked out, though the DRDO is currently on a well-earned high on Akash Mk.1 — deliveries to the Indian Army begin in a few days, with fresh orders from the IAF in the works.
is it necessary to add another ship defence missile? Barak-1 and Barak-8 are sufficient for ship protection. Spin offs will be given to IA and IN.
Well…instead of buying only seeker and improving Akash MK-1 into Akash Mk-2, now buy the entire system !!! for $ 6 billion USD – 36,000 crore rupees.
Chinese are building variety of seekers and learning and exporting at the same time. Indians are busy buying western seekers as far as possible. Navy wants them even when it has Barak-1 in its inventory..Strange logic !!!
West is hardly trying to sell its toys to india ………to propup their debt driven economies which may collapse any time soon……….
FOOLISH INDIANNS SHOULD NOT FALL TRAP……..AND WASTe MONEY IN IMPORTING TOYS FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS………..
ITS TIME FOR INDIA TO DEVELOP INDIGENEIOUS WEPEANS RAYHER THEN BUYING WEAPONS FROM WEST FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS……..
Together with Rafale, Dassault will make a killing. Now, if India does not toe the US (aka Pakistan-Sunni) line, all French arms will turn into Mistrals!
Will this missile replace barak 1 or will it be another layer of defense for the ships? There should at least be some explanation about the role of maitri.
Disband the Navy
Why the revival to placate the french if Rafale is dropped.?
Peace offering to the French Masters in prelude to cancellation of MMRCA contract !
The DRDO's Akash missile has successfully fended off MBDA's proposal earlier. The Army and IAF have inducted the Akash Mk.1 in large numbers.
Hence, that was a rare history created by Akash, when an indigenous weapon trumped an aggressive arms lobby to import a foreign alternative.
For the Akash Mk.2, if DRDO is forced to partner with MBDA, it can keep the partnership to a minimum. At most, it may obtain only seeker-related consultancy from MBDA.
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Let's abandon the PAK-FA. Let's concentrate on the AMCA.
Without VTOL/VSTOL AMCA does not have any added advantages
Its better to scrap the program than just being another Assembling"effort by HAL/DRDO at home
VTOL & related technology will give new engineering capability, but for that HAL has to show its better than a garage company
well either AMCA or PAK-FA our IAS lobby is unable to deliver anything for defense forces and our military leadership is too coward to fight for their men
even MoD babu is more powerful than Indian Army General who gets things done
IA & IAF have rejected the Maitri SR-SAM offering. The Navy was not much interested either but it is being shoved down their throat now by the MoD because they have to have something for PM Modi to sign when he goes to visit France.
The proposed Maitri SR-SAM is an evolutionary version of the Vertical launch MICA missile. Why can't a VL version of the ASTRA be developed to serve this need for the Indian Navy ?
Or is this just another sorry attempt to soothe frayed French nerves over the imminent cancellation of the Rafale deal ?
No need for this overpriced French SAM. We have the Akash, let's just invest money on developing our own seeker technology and improving the Akash Mk2.
@Abhiman
I propose a Peer Review and Oversight committee for DRDO which critically evaluates the timelines/cost/ indigenisation of each and every DRDO product / Programme.
Whenever timelines / Quality / Cost / Indigenisation are not met all involved should be fired.
All costs including Adm costs should be transparent and audited ( like guest rooms @ 5Rs/Day, Meals @ 5Rs/ Meal)
Work Culture including working hours must be audited daily and if work not produced, individual must be fired.
Aircraft designers must go and see aircraft and fly in them in all operational and peacetime conditions that thier designed product is likely to encounter.
Same for Tank , Ship etc etc designers.
Also, all previous programmes must be audited and responsible persons must be called to account for wastages delays etc.
INSAS rifles which do not fire or Jam during an encounter, barrels explode etc must be shoved up the appropriate asses of QC / Manufacturer or Designer
Designers/ QC/ PSUs ( OFB) Mfg of Parachutes which dont open and Bombs which explode on the wing,must be whipped and hung in public
Howzat?
If … INSAS rifles which do not fire or Jam during an encounter then Army should file criminal FIR against DRDO and IOB officials …….. but continue using INSAS and that is only way to improve the program
Also, tell family of dead soldiers that how DRDO and IOB are responsible. Use media in these matters
AR 16 had similar issues but US didn't go to buy AK-47 or other equipment but kept on using them until a satisfactory level is achieved. If something indigenous is not working then going somewhere else does not make sense. That way higher italian soldiers or Israeli soldiers cauz they are effective in stopping terrorist !!
Read that the French have actually reduced their total budget spend for their military. It is I think 1.9% of their GDP. So they would be looking for tie-ups to fill in the gaps.
This tie-up might actually be good strategic thinking. Rather than being too critical, depending on the industrial knowledge gained it might be very useful.
However if the deliverables take 10+ years to materialise, then it is debatable.
Anon@8:25 am, charity begins at home! Lets begin all this audit shaudit stuff withe IA/IAF/IN first shall we? Unlike what you are bloviating, HAL/DPSUs are already audited. Reports are available openly. In contrast, when CAG tries to audit procurement programs, in many cases its told no dice, for grounds of national security. As somebody who has heard of the usual, let me tell you, the amount of corruption and rot in the defense services procurement is legendary and cannot ever be matched by the incompetent DPSU babu log. From Rs 10,000 Diodes to Rs 50,000 water filters – indian armed forces bilk the taxpayer heavily, all the while frontline troops are told NO BPJ because "budget nahin hain". Things are so bad that even corruption in food procurement is now the norm in border staging areas and peacetime locations. Physician, heal thyself is what needs to be told to defense services!! Our Generals are now notoriously incompetent and corrupt for the most part. Going to jaunts after jaunts and imbibing Johnny Walker Black Label paid from regimental mess funds is the norm. Army brats are now to be found in elite academies in the west, east, everywhere. Meanwhile scions of honest colonels and majors make do with what civvies do, which is less than nothing. Sad to say, but the entire edifice is rotten from top down, and only the guts of the average jawan and middle leadership is letting the defence services get by. Otherwise dal hi kaala hain. Lets see one journalist report on the T-90 joke and how spares to air cooling were mishandled by army procurement?? Nothing was done, nothing is done. Also, many generals and air commodors are now fronting for arms dealer companies with posh offices in delhi! Another reason to enjoy retirement, with beer parties for colleagues and getting inside info. Truth is what it is.
@Anon 1.06 PM
Mate you need to post more such enlightening comments or start your own blog exposing corruption in high places.
It's amazing a country where more than half billion defecate in the open; thinks nothing on splurging 100s of billions on imported arms which makes few corrupt people and foreigners very rich while ensuring 100s of million Indians continue to live below poverty.