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 One of the most impressive weapons at
the show was the Indo-Russian
Brahmos anti ship missile, designed
in a ship launched, submarine launched, coastal launched and air
launched versions. A different (subsonic) cruise missile was the
Club-S family
including the
3M-14E and 3M-54E missiles, displayed by the Russian Novator
experimental machine design bureau. MBDA ALSO presented models of
its leading products, including the new
Exocet MM40 Block 3,
currently in full scale development. Advanced torpedoes were also
presented here - two of the leading European manufacturers
 of Torpedoes were presented here, with full scale models of their
products. Finmeccanica displayed the Whitehead
Black
Shark and Atlas Elektronik brought a scaled model of its
heavyweight modular Sea Hake Mode 4 which is an evolutionary
development the SEA HAKE heavyweight torpedo in
used as a standard weapon with
some of the NATO navies.
 Other naval products on display included
various countermeasures for ships and submarines, including the
new SeaPike ASW weapon, and the
Siren, presented by BAE.
Air defense systems were a common
sight at DEFEXPO. MBDA presented two systems – the
Mica VL
in its land based and naval configurations, and the
SAMP/T
air defense system, utilizing the Aster 30 missiles. RAFAEL
unveiled at DEFEXPO its new concept of "full spectrum solutions",
and chose to demonstrate these solutions with the new
SPYDER
integrated short range air defense system. Raytheon displayed a
model of its SLAMRAAM,
The company believes that the US
missiles will be suitable for the planned Indian replacements of
some of their air defense assets, and provide an adequate answer
to an evolving threat of cruise missiles and precision attack
weapons. Contraves brought a complete system of the 35mm Skyguard
equipped with the AHEAD system while Kentron was ready to
discuss some aspects of its
Umkhonto missile, encouraged
by its success in selling this system to Finish Navy. Russian air
defense systems at the show included the 9M317 (SA-11)
missile presented by DRPE. This missile is used in the
BUK M1-2
land based SAM and with the Naval Shtil-1 system. These missiles
are providing a modern replacement for ageing systems such as the
SA-6 (which is the Akash missile, locally produced in India), offering enhanced immunity
against countermeasures, and effective
engagement of faster, smaller targets including cruise missiles
and guided weapons. KBP displayed the 9M311 missile, used in the
Pantsir S1 mobile air defense system. An upgraded
version of this
type is also proposed with the Hermes air defense system.
Two man-portable anti tank missiles
shown at DEFEXPO were the Israeli
SPIKE MR/LR, and the
Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin. Both missiles are competing head
to head in several countries, where acquisition of light weight
anti-tank systems for infantry units meets priority bids. Through
an attractive cooperation with local industries in Europe and
Asia, Spike had a head start in Europe – in Finland, Netherlands
and Poland, as well as in few undisclosed markets. The missile is
also in service in Singapore and Israel. Javelin, widely fielded
with the US Army and Marine Corps, won many of the recent
competitions - in the UK, Norway, Australia and New-Zealand. Both
Javelin and Spike are currently competing on a Canadian Army
procurement program. India has yet to decide which
missiles are suitable for its future programs. Raytheon sources
told Defense Update that so far, Javelin has not been proposed
here but the company views the region as an important market for
future sales. MBDA has also chosen DEFEXPO as a stage where it
previewed its Future Combat Missile System (FCMS), designed for
medium and long range engagement of armored targets, by infantry
and cavalry units.
Other anti tank missiles at DEFEXPO 04 included the
Russian Kornet-E and the
Konkurs-M anti-tank
missiles. The later is locally produced in India. |
