Russian India joint venture for manufacturing of Russian-made BM-30 Smerch rocket launcher 0709122

"Rosoboronexport, SPLAV Russian research group and production and the Indian Ministry of Defense signed a memorandum of cooperation, August 12, 2012 in New Delhi, for the establishment of facilities and the organization of after sales services for the BM-30 Smerch MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System. All the technologies and the production of the Smerch MLRS systems will be fully available to the new joint venture, said Rosoboronexport in a statement.

The BM-30 Smerch 9A52 is a russian made heavy multiple rocket launcher. The BM-30 is designed and manufactured by the Russian Company Splav State Research and Production Association, Tula, Russia, which also manufactures the Uragan, BM-21 Grad and Prima rocket launchers. The latest variant of the multiple rocket launcher system BM-30 is the Smerch-M with the launcher vehicle 9A52-2.

The BM-30 Smerch 9K58 is designed to counter tactical missile systems, army aviation at staging airstrips, as well as rocket, artillery and mortar battalions and batteries, command post, and manpower concentration areas.

Moscow and New Delhi "want to ensure the protection of secret information. The signature of the memorandum for the creation of this joint venture confirms the increasing of military-technical cooperation between Russia and India to achieve large-scale projects based on mutual trust, friendship and geopolitical strategic partnership, "said the document.

Rosoboronexport is the only Russian public company who have the right to export all types of weapons, military services and technologie. It represents more than 80% of Russian exports of arms and military equipment and cooperates with more than 70 countries. Rosoboronexport occupies an important place on the global arms market.