MBDA confirms Indian Army order for MILAN anti-tank missiles

European missile manufacturer MBDA has confirmed that the India's ministry of defence has signed a contract with defence public sector unit Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) for the supply of MILAN missiles to the Indian Army. It said the contract was inked on 3 December 2008.

MILAN missile According to MBDA the contract will ensure continuing production of the MILAN missile at the BDL, under licence agreement with MBDA for at least another four years.

It said that BDL has already manufactured well over 30,000 variants of the MILAN missile in an unbroken business partnership that dates back to the 1970s. It said the latest contract will further consolidate the relationship.

For the latest contracts most of the components will be locally sourced and produced in India with BDL also responsible for final assembly. MBDA will contribute part of the missile systems.

Antoine Bouvier, CEO of MBDA, said: "I am doubly delighted by the news of this contract. As well as confirming that MILAN continues to be the weapon of choice for many of today's modern ground forces, this contract also further cements the close partnership MBDA has developed with BDL over the years".

MBDA, a consortium of EADS, BAE Systems and Finmeccanica, did not disclose either the value of the contract, or the size of the order in terms of units.