|
On Strong Wicket
|
|
MBDA prepares for opportunities beyond MMRCA |
Fire Shadow
|
|
A FORCE Report
Fusaro/Lostock/Stevenage: As Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Aviation slug it out in the last lap of the Indian Air Force’s competition for Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), one company which already appears to have won the competition is the European missile behemoth, MBDA, which arms both platforms.
But as the saying goes, there’s many a slip between the cup and the lip, MBDA is
not celebrating, just yet. Instead, before the opening of the commercial bids on
the MMRCA, it flew select Indian journalists to its facilities in Italy and the
UK. |
|
|
|
|
The idea was twofold: to familiarise the Indian media with its range of
capabilities and to announce that MBDA was indeed a global company with
manufacturing capacities across countries and business interests across
continents. Hence, not only does it bring to the table state-of-the-art
technologies but also the promise of long-term partnership. Lest this be
construed as an MMRCA pitch, MBDA carefully skirted the multi-billion deal to
focus on its current interests across the three defence services on various
platforms.
Calling MBDA a truly global company, MBDA’s chief executive officer, Antoine Bouvier introduced the company as the, “Airbus equivalent of the missile industry in Europe.” Talking to the journalists through a teleconference, Bouvier said that India has a long term objective of developing its defence industry. “We want to be part of that development,” he said, adding that, “MBDA is by far the most integrated European company. Sure, integration has been a difficult process but it has set a strong foundation for future cooperation with newer markets and companies.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|