Even after two decades since the acquisition case, the Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) search has seen a system absent from trials and failing trials, being passed as technically compliant and ending up as, apparently, the cheapest. Also problematic is the difficulty its purchase could pose by provoking U.S. sanctions under their CAATSA.
StratPost got a chance to have a quick chat with Saab President and CEO, Hakan Bushke at the beginning of Aero India 2013. He talks about his company’s growing relationships and activites in India and also touches upon the prospects of the latest Gripen E variant and the RBS-70 VSHORAD, which is being offered to India.
‘With Mistral having already won a competition to arm India’s ALH Dhruv helicopters, MBDA has also been keen to propose all the advantages that the missile offers as a ground-based air defense weapon’, calling the ‘supply logistics’, ‘service and maintenance benefits’ of a ‘multiple use missile’ to be ‘an added advantage’.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) base here will host the eight-week-long seventh edition of the joint military training activities with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) from October 14, a defense spokesman said.
