"DRDO will engage for development of nine SRSAMs
which have 40 missiles each," a Navy source said.
This comes as a result of the decision taken to revive the $5 billion
SRSAM programme 'Maitri' at the latest defence acquisition council
(DAC) meeting of the ministry of defence (MoD) held on Saturday, March
28.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy is also preparing to equip
its warships with Israeli Barak-8 air-defence missile system which
is to happen by the year end. "The DRDO- MBDA engagement, however,
is for the next generation surface to air missile systems," said
the source.
The DRDO had signed a Memorandum of Understanding
with MBDA in 2013, but there has hardly been any progress because
the DRDO’s Akash missile system has similar functions. The Army
and the Air Force have expressed satisfaction with the capabilities
of Akash, but the Navy has made it clear that Akash is not suitable
for installation on warships. This is likely to be discussed further
during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France next week.