Boosting self-reliance: MBDA to develop local maintenance facility for IAF's MICA missiles

New Delhi: European missile maker MBDA on Wednesday said it has signed an agreement with the Indian Air Force for the development of local capability for the maintenance, repair and midlife overhaul (MRO) of MICA missiles.

The MRO facility will be set up, operated and maintained by the Indian Air Force, with MBDA supplying the industrial machinery and tools required, data packages, as well as training and technical support.

MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile are the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets.


"Developing these facilities locally will foster long-term capability building, secure technical expertise for years to come, and develop India's strategic autonomy, reflecting the core principles of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the ambitious campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020," the MBDA said in a statement.

It said the facility will help India's domestic defence sustainment effort, improving turnaround times, with capacity to support MICA missiles and significantly enhancing the operational capability and readiness of the Indian armed forces.

India and MBDA share a long history of partnership in equipping the Indian Air Force going back to the early days of air-to-air missiles.

The Indian Air Force has relied on MBDA's missile systems to provide the latest air combat performance across a number of different aircraft types, the company said.

"The MBDA today has two focuses: providing the highest performing missile technologies to the Indian Armed Forces, and secondly supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat as part of MBDA's longstanding partnership strategy with India," it said.

"With a strong reputation as a reliable partner that has supported the Indian Air Force for over 50 years, European missile firm MBDA understands the importance of operational capability and sovereignty to the IAF.

"The company has strongly committed to Make in India, to deliver both industrial sovereignty and the best military equipment to India," it said.