SOURCE: AFI
Thales, a leading defense contractor headquartered in Paris, is setting its sights on India’s defense market. The company plans to establish local production of weapon systems and is actively seeking partnerships with Indian firms like L&T Defense, Bharat Forge, and Munitions India Limited (MIL).
Indian foreign policy mandates collaboration with domestic companies for foreign defense firms. Ashish Saraf, Thales’ Vice President and Country Director for India, acknowledged this requirement. He highlighted their existing partnership with MKU, an Indian defense company, for infrared camera manufacturing.
“Thales has a history of supplying the Indian armed forces with short-range missiles, both unguided and laser-guided,” Saraf said. “Our current focus is on localizing their production. Laser-guided missiles, as evident from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, represent a significant technological leap forward, and we’re keen to bring this capability to India.”