France Intends to Develop Surface-to-Air Missiles with India: French Diplomat Levitte
Dated 20/1/2009
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France wants to develop a new short-range surface-to-air missile (SR-SAM) in cooperation with India. Negotiations are nearing conclusion, according to Jean-David Levitte, Diplomatic Adviser to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
This new system may be the Maitri, which may incorporate technology from India's Trishul SAM and MBDA's MICA. India' state-run Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) released a global RFP for co-development of SR-SAM system. Levitte said the process to secure a foreign partner is underway.
India recently announced orders for the Akash, another indigenously designed missile, and the Israeli-built SPYDER.
The Maitri missile project is a next-generation low-level, quick-reaction surface-to-air missile (LLQRM) being developed by Indian-based Defence Research and Development Organization in collaboraion with the Britain-based MBDA. Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), a lab of DRDO will act as the main design centre in India.
Related reports:
DRDO, MBDA to Jointly Develop Maitri Quick Reaction Missile
