BDL and Rosoboronexport Sign MoU for Cooperation on Pantsir Variants for India's Air Defence Missile-Gun System Needs

In a significant boost to India's air defence capabilities, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Russia's Rosoboronexport (ROE) have formalized a partnership to collaborate on variants of the Pantsir air defence missile-gun system.

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed during the 5th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) subgroup meeting in Goa, signifies India's commitment to enhancing its indigenous defence manufacturing while leveraging strategic international partnerships.

This collaboration directly addresses the Indian Army's need for a modern self-propelled air-defence gun missile system (SPAD-GMS). The Army seeks to equip its mechanized formations with mobile and versatile air defence solutions capable of countering a wide range of aerial threats in dynamic battlefield environments.

The Pantsir system, renowned for its combined missile and gun capabilities, offers a potent solution to this requirement. Its mobility and effectiveness in intercepting various aerial targets, including aircraft, helicopters, and drones, make it a strong contender for the Indian Army's SPAD-GMS program.

The MoU between BDL and ROE paves the way for the potential local production and customization of Pantsir systems in India. This aligns with the government's "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiatives, promoting domestic defence production and reducing reliance on imports.

The Indian Army has outlined specific requirements for the SPAD-GMS, including:

• Gun System: A minimum 30 mm caliber with an effective range of 3.5 km and an altitude capability of 2.5 km.
• Missile System: Capacity for up to six missiles with a minimum range of 6.5 km and an altitude ceiling of 3 km, equipped with advanced features like proximity fuzes and counter-jamming technology.

By partnering with Rosoboronexport, BDL gains access to cutting-edge air defence technology and the opportunity to adapt it to India's specific operational needs. This collaboration not only strengthens India's defence capabilities but also fosters technological advancement and positions India as a potential contributor to global defence supply chains.

 

[Anant]

And pray tell why we aren't developing this ourselves? We have been building RCWPs for a fair while now. Integrate that with something like a modified VSHORADS, and you have yourselves a system.

 

[Kira]

I believe this should be developed domestically as India today has the required technology and expertise to develop an equivalent system.

 

[Sandeep]

India hasn’t said that they are going to buy the Pantsir at all. Recently we sent a RFI for a self propelled air defence gun so this could just be a Russian offer to sell some more weapons to us or avoid sanctions to sell it indirectly to a third country.

Regardless of that we have the knowledge, technology and capability to design and develop an indigenous version. The private sector would be ideal for this project.