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INDIA
SIGNS CONTRACT FOR MBDA’S SUBMARINE-LAUNCHED EXOCET
The Indian
Ministry of Defence today awarded international missile systems
group MBDA the contract to supply its Exocet SM-39 weapon
system to arm the Navy’s new Scorpène conventional
attack submarines.
The
contract, signed on the 6th October in New Delhi, involves
the provision of the Exocet SM-39 missile for the six new
generation submarines ordered from Armaris.
This
latest purchase of the Exocet missile makes India the 34th
customer for the world-renowned anti-ship missile system.
To date, MBDA has sold more than 3,300 Exocet missiles in
all configurations since the missile first entered service.
The
contract cements the already strong partnership between India’s
armed forces, indigenous industry and MBDA. MBDA’s long
relationship with India spans over a quarter of a century
with key programmes for the Indian Army and Air Force. The
company’s
collaboration with India’s Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL)
dates back more than two decades with the production under
licence of the Milan anti-armour systems.
MBDA
also has a long heritage of working with the Indian Air Force,
equipping its Jaguar, MiG-21, MIG-23 and Mirage 2000 combat
aircraft with airborne weapons.
Marwan
Lahoud, MBDA’s Chief Executive Officer, said: "This
contract marks another significant step in MBDA’s long-term
strategy to develop and strengthen solid cooperation with
its major international partners. MBDA welcomes this new building
block in a relationship which has already such strong foundations
and which we will continue to grow".
He
added: "Determined in our pursuit of an even stronger
cooperation with India and with an unmatched high-technology
and skills base to share, the signature today of this very
important contract confirms our shared vision".
Notes
With
an annual turnover exceeding € 3 billion, a forward order
book of over €13 billion and over 70 customers world
wide, MBDA is a world leading, global missile systems company.
MBDA currently has 45 missile system and countermeasure programmes
in operational service and has proven its ability as prime
contractor to head major multi-national projects.
MBDA
is jointly owned by BAE SYSTEMS (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and
FINMECCANICA (25%).
The Exocet Family
MBDA’s
family of Exocet missiles comprises a range of stand-off "fire
and forget" stealthy missiles with skimming flight for
engaging high value naval targets with the flexibility to
be fired from all maritime platforms – surface ships,
submarines, fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and coastal batteries.
The
Exocet, in production since 1972, was the West’s first
long range anti-ship missile with "fire and forget"
and skimming flight capabilities.
Exocet
is a complete family of all-weather heavy anti-ship missiles
suitable for all types of carriers. Several versions exist:
Surface-to-surface
(MM) for ships
Air-to-Sea (AM 39) for aircraft and helicopters
Submarine-surface (SM 39) for submerged submarines
Land-Sea (BC) for coastal batteries.
The
Exocet SM 39 variant is launched from a submarine’s torpedo
tubes, enclosed in a VSM (Véhicule Sous Marin). The
VSM is a self-propelled and guided container that will manœuvre
before surfacing so as not to reveal the position of the submarine.
Once in the air, the Exocet missile leaves the VSM and proceeds
to the target like a normal surface variant of the missile.
Exocet SM 39 is in service with the French and other navies
around the world
Fase de separação do booster do Exocet SM-39
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