Latest news with #MBDA
India.com
5 hours ago
- India.com
India's ASTRA, China's PL-15 missile, USA' AMRAAM: List of world's top 7 air-to-air missiles, 4th will surprise you
AIM-120 AMRAAM (USA) Top 7 Missiles: The recent conflicts across the world including the Russia-Ukraine war, Iran-Israel war and the Pakistan-India conflict have taught us the important of air superiority. As a significant part of air superiority, Air-to-air missiles are a crucial part of modern air combat. As part of the air combat, allowing fighter jets to destroy enemy aircraft before they even appear on radar has been the level at which countries fight in air. However, do you know about the missiles which are known across the world for their high-speed, high-precision weapons. Here is an article listing the top 7 air-to-air missiles in the world and highlights India's position among them. Which are the Top 7 Missiles of the world: AIM-120 AMRAAM (USA): The AIM-120 AMRAAM of USA is America's second most powerful Beyond Visual Range missile with much longer range, equipped with a better guidance system. Meteor (Europe): The Meteor missile of Europe is a radar-guided beyond visual range air-to-air missile. Developed by MBDA for European nations, the missile is known for its beyond-visual-range capability and 'no escape' zone, used by Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. Notably, the The Indian Air Force also uses the Meteor missile. R-37M missile (Russia): The R-37M missile of Russia is a long-range, fast and potentially lethal missile. However, its combat effectiveness is still uncertain. PL-15 (China): Also called the Thunderbolt 15 missile, the PL-15 is a powerful missile equipped with AESA radar and reportedly outranges many Western counterparts. The missile considered to have the longest range among the currently operated air-to-air missiles and is currently used on China's J-20 stealth fighter. IRIS-T (Germany): The IRIS-T missile of Germany is a short-range missile new generation air-to-air missile manufactured with high agility and precision. It complements the Meteor in European forces. Python-5 (Israel): The Python-5 missile of Israel is an advanced short-range missile with with an advanced electro-optical seeker. Notably, India has integrated it with its aircraft. Astra (India): Developed by India's Defence Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Astra missile is India's indigenous beyond-visual-range missile, competing with some of the best in the world and is now part of the IAF's arsenal.
India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
After challenging US' F-35 fighters with Rafael jets, France is now planning to compete with..., Trump should be worried because...
France's SAMPT NG missile system Bad news for US's Donald Trump: For several decades, the United States of America has dominated the global market for missile defense systems with its defence production and innovation capabilities. The defence equipment of USA including the Patriot Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system are widely deployed by NATO allies and strategic partners across the world due to their defence capabilities. However, there is an European country which has started to compete with US's defence capabilities. At first, it challenged US' F-35 fighters aircrafts with Rafael jets and now, it is planning to challenge the Patriot Surface-to-Air Missile with its SAMP/T NG missile system. Why should Donald Trump be worried? In the latest development, France has entered the global race to dominate air defense technology by unveiling its advanced SAMP/T NG missile system. Seen as a direct challenge to the American Patriot system, much like the earlier F-35 fighter jet vs Rafale jet debate in the fighter jet segment, the missile is seen as the biggest challenges for US led by President Donald Trump. Why is France's SAMP/T NG missile system dangerous? The SAMP/T NG missile of France has been developed by Thales and MBDA in collaboration with Italy. Designed to intercept ballistic missiles, drones, the fighter jets has been developed with greater accuracy and speed. With longer range, faster deployment, and modern radar tech, it could attract NATO countries looking for alternatives amid rising global tensions. US plans to supply Patriot missiles to Ukraine Meanwhile, in a significant test for the US Patriot air defence missiles, US President Donald Trump has said that the United States will send the missiles to Ukraine to help bolster the country's defences against Russian attacks. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday (local time), US President Trump explained that the European Union would purchase the missiles from the United States and then deliver them to Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)
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First Post
3 days ago
- Business
- First Post
European missile group MBDA supplying parts for bombs used in Gaza airstrikes: Report
Smoke rises from Gaza after an explosion, as seen from the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border. File image/ Reuters MBDA, Europe's largest missile manufacturer, is reportedly selling key components for bombs that have been used in airstrikes in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of Palestinian children and other civilians, according to an investigation by The Guardian. The investigation, conducted in collaboration with Disclose and Follow the Money, highlights concerns about European companies potentially profiting from the devastation in Gaza. The focus of the investigation is the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, for which MBDA owns a factory in Alabama, US, that produces the 'wings'. These wings, which are fitted to the GBU-39 bomb made by Boeing, unfold after launch, guiding the bomb to its target. Revenues from MBDA Incorporated, the US company, flow through MBDA UK, based in Hertfordshire, England, and any profits are then passed to the MBDA group, headquartered in France, The Guardian reports. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD MBDA distributed almost £350 million in dividends last year to its three shareholders: Britain's biggest defence firm BAE Systems, France's Airbus, and Italy's Leonardo, according to The Guardian. The GBU-39 is reaching Israel under the US military aid program. Since the Hamas massacre of Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023, an estimated 4,800 of the bombs have been shipped, either bought directly from Boeing or transferred from US military reserves, to which Israel responded by launching a war on Gaza. The most recent consignment of 2,166 was announced in February of this year, just as the UN reported that almost 70% of Gaza had been reduced to rubble. According to the investigation, using open source information and analysis by weapons experts, there have been 24 verified cases where the GBU-39 was deployed in attacks that resulted in civilian deaths, including children. These attacks often occurred at night, without warning, targeting school buildings and tent camps sheltering displaced families. Some of these incidents have been examined by the United Nations and Amnesty International, with concerns raised about potential war crimes, The Guardian notes. In one instance, on May 26, 2025, a bomb struck the Fahmi al-Jarjawi school in Gaza City, killing 36 people, half of whom were children. Hanin al-Wadie, a five-year-old girl, survived the attack but suffered severe burns and psychological trauma, losing her parents and sister, The Guardian reports. Weapons experts identified fragments of a GBU-39 bomb at the scene. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD MBDA confirmed its contract with Boeing for the wings and stated that it complies with all relevant national and international laws applicable to the arms trade in the countries in which it operates, all of whom have export policies and operate robust export control regimes, according to The Guardian. However, campaigners argue that the case highlights the limitations of the UK's move to pause some arms shipments to Israel, as the US arm of MBDA can continue supplying Boeing from its Alabama factory. Sam Perlo-Freeman, the research coordinator at Campaign Against the Arms Trade, said that MBDA is profiting from the arming of Israel, according to The Guardian. He suggested that MBDA could sell MBDA Inc. if it wanted to avoid complicity in arming Israel and that the UK government should take all actions within its power to stop the genocide, including sanctions on companies arming Israel and banning UK investments in such companies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Europe's largest missile maker supplying parts to Israel for bombs used in Gaza
LONDON: Parts made by Europe's largest missile maker are being used in bombs launched by Israel in airstrikes on Gaza, an investigation has found. A joint report by The Guardian, Disclose and Follow the Money discovered that components produced by MBDA are used to construct the GBU-39 bomb. Wing-like parts, called Diamond-Blacks and manufactured at MBDA's plant in Alabama, are fitted to the 250 lb GBU-39, which is made by Boeing, allowing the bomb to manoeuver mid-air toward targets. The GBU-39 is sent to Israel as part of the US military aid program, bought directly from Boeing and transferred from American military stocks. Deployed aerially from fighter jets over combat zones, an estimated 4,800 have been sent to Israel since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Open-source analysis found that the weapon has been deployed at least 24 times in Gaza in incidents where civilians, including children, were killed. The attacks often came at night, targeting shelters including school buildings, camps and a mosque. At least 500 people have been killed in the identified cases, including more than 100 children. The UN and Amnesty International have both raised concerns that a number of incidents involving GBU-39s amount to war crimes. Donatella Rovera, a senior investigator at Amnesty, told The Guardian: 'Those launching attacks have a legal duty to take precautions so as to avoid harming civilians — even in cases where there may be a military target at the location — including by not striking locations full of civilians.' Last year, Foreign Secretary David Lammy suspended a number of arms export licenses to Israel over fears that UK-made equipment could be used to commit 'serious violations' of international law in Gaza. But campaigners told The Guardian that the use of Diamond-Black wings, manufactured in the US, shows the limits of the UK government's measures, which cannot ban the export of items made overseas by sister companies of British firms. Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, said in a report last month that numerous private sector firms continue to arm Israel despite warnings of human rights violations, war crimes and genocide in Gaza. 'The present report shows why the genocide carried out by Israel continues: because it is lucrative for many,' she added. Sam Perlo-Freeman, research coordinator at Campaign Against the Arms Trade, told The Guardian: 'We would support the UK government taking all actions that are within their powers to stop the genocide. 'Beyond an arms embargo, this includes sanctions on companies arming Israel, banning UK investments in such companies.' MBDA's code of ethics states that it is 'committed to taking the utmost care in identifying and preventing negative direct and indirect impacts our activities may have on human rights, fundamental freedoms and people health and safety.'
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
How EU's largest missile maker is selling parts for bombs that have killed children in Gaza
Exclusive: Britain has paused some weapons sales to Israel, but a Guardian investigation shows revenues from the GBU-39 bomb generated by the US arm of MBDA flow through the UK. The bombs have been shipped in their thousands to Israel and used in airstrikes where research indicates Palestinian children and other civilians were killed. With concerns mounting about the extent to which European companies may be profiting from the devastation of Gaza, the Guardian, along with independent newsrooms Disclose and Follow the Money, has examined the supply chain behind the GBU-39 bomb, and the ways in which it has been deployed during the conflict
