Wednesday
February 19, 2025

Eyeing Make in India, Foreign Firms Bring Cutting Edge Technologies to Aero India 2025

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By: Suman Sharma

Lockheed Martin F-21: source Author

Aimed at wooing the Indian defence market foreign aerospace firms are vying to showcase their might at the biennial airshow – Aero India, taking place in Bengaluru from February 10-14, 2025.

MBDA missiles on a Rafale: source Author

MBDA

The French missile manufacturer-MBDA is gearing up to showcase its advanced missile systems designed to support the Indian Armed Forces in their mission to safeguard Indian sovereignty.

MBDA’s cutting-edge weapon systems arming the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Rafale combat aircraft, including the Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, the SCALP deep-strike cruise missile, and the versatile MICA missile will be on display at this year’s airshow. These highly potent set of weapons from MBDA give the IAF an air combat capability that is unrivalled by any of India’s neighbours. The most famous of these weapons is the Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, which is widely recognised as a game-changer for air combat. The Meteor is powered by a unique rocket-ramjet motor that gives it a far greater engine power, enhancing its endurance compared to any other missile of the same class, meaning it can fly faster, longer, and manoeuvre better, resulting in Meteor’s no-escape zone many times greater than any other air-to-air missile.

India’s Rafale fighter jets are also be equipped with the SCALP deep-strike cruise missile from MBDA to strike hardened and protected targets deep inside hostile territory, along with MICA, a potent air combat missile, which is also part of the IAF’s upgrade package for the Mirage 2000 aircraft. MBDA is also proposing all these potent weapons, as well as the famous Exocet AM39 air launched anti-ship missile for the Rafale M for the Indian Navy’s new aircraft carrier.

MBDA has been delivering battle-winning capabilities to the IAF and collaborating with the Indian industry for over 50 years.  MBDA and the Indian private defence manufacturer Larsen & Toubro (L&T) have a Coimbatore-based joint venture named LTMMSL, which will showcase its Make in India projects at Aero India 2025, including short range surface to air missile systems for the Indian Navy and the latest generation anti-tank missiles (ATGM5) for the Indian Army.

MBDA aims at providing the very best technologies to the Indian armed forces, and to work in true partnership in support of the Indian defence industry, to fulfill its commitment towards the ‘Make in India’ programme.

Other examples of technological edge equipping the IAF include the ASRAAM within visual range air combat missiles. ASRAAM is providing the IAF’s Jaguar fleet with a step-change in air combat performance – a capability that will soon also enhance the IAF’s new Tejas LCA Mk1A.

Meanwhile the MBDA Mistral ATAM system has been successfully integrated on the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).

Lockheed Martin MH-60R: source Author

Lockheed Martin

American aircraft giant Lockheed Martin is unveiling its immersive Vast™ experience system in India for the first time at the 15th biennial edition of Aero India. The company is highlighting its vision for the 21st century security® solutions with a focus on integrated capabilities on offer to the Indian armed forces.

The immersive Vast™ experience is hoping to be the prime attraction at the Lockheed Martin booth, providing visitors with access to a system that brings multi-domain missions to life through interactive 3D visualisations.

The company’s exhibit will also showcase its most innovative capabilities, including the C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter, F-21 fighter aircraft, MH-60R “Romeo” multi-mission helicopter, Javelin® weapon system and S-92 multi-role helicopter among others.

 “Aero India has been a leading platform for Lockheed Martin and the aerospace and defence sector for many years, and we look forward to our participation this year with the Vast™ Experience System,” said William L. Blair, Vice President and regional chief executive, Asia and India, Lockheed Martin, adding, “Building on our deep partnerships with the Indian industry, we look forward to showcasing some of our advanced capabilities that address our customers’ biggest challenges for the 21st Century and grow our presence and partnerships that support greater self-reliance in the defence sector.”

Boosting Lockheed Martin’s presence at the show will be the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft model which represents a strong legacy of partnership with the Indian defence industry. The IAF operates 12 C-130Js to support a variety of tactical airlift missions. India also is connected to the C-130J through Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited, a joint venture, that has the distinction of being the single-global source of C-130J empennage assemblies included on all new Super Hercules aircraft, worldwide.

In 2024, the company expanded its commitment to India through a teaming agreement with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) to expand upon the companies’ business relationship through the C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter on future potential business opportunities to include:

  • Establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the IAF’s existing fleet of 12 C-130Js as well as other global Super Hercules fleets.
  • Expanding C-130J manufacturing and assembly in India to produce aircraft for the IAF’s MTA program, subject to U.S. and Indian government approvals.

AnF-21 fighter aircraft model,which is on offer to the IAF for the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) competition, will be on display at the show. The model is configured with the latest sensors and mission avionic systems that couple on-board and off-board data information into an effective, easy to manage combat situation display. 

TheMH-60R “Romeo” SEAHAWK® helicopter will occupy a prominent place at the Lockheed Martin’s Aero India display. The MH-60R is the most capable and mature Anti-Submarine (ASW)/Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) multi-mission helicopter available in the world today. Ten MH-60R helicopters are presently available to the Indian Navy for operations. A total of 24 MH-60Rs will be delivered to India over the next year.

Javelin, the world’s most versatile, one-man-portable and multi-purpose weapon system, also will be part of Lockheed Martin’s exhibit at Aero India. The anti-tank weapon system can be deployed by its traditional man-portable manner as well as from multiple platforms and used during the day, at night and in any kind of weather. Using fire-and-forget technology, Javelin provides operational flexibility so that operators can rapidly engage and then move on to a new firing position, affording the highest level of survivability to the user.

S-92®multi-rolehelicopter is connected to India through the Tata Sikorsky Aerospace Limited, a joint venture, that has the distinction of being fully integrated into Lockheed Martin’s global supply chain for manufacturing aerostructure components for the S-92 helicopter.

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nisato panama
nisato panama
20 days ago

Your blog post was a much-needed dose of inspiration. Thank you for motivating me to chase my dreams.

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