Thales Will Equip Indian Attack Helicopters with 2.75-inch Rocket Launchers

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, seeking to boost the tactical capabilities of the Indian armed forces, has awarded Thales a contract to supply 135 2.75-inch (70-mm) rocket launchers. Thales’s fully certified, field-proven, competitive rocket launchers are suitable for use on both light and combat helicopters. As a key differentiator for state-of-the-art helicopters and combat aircraft, they provide an excellent fit with the requirements of the Indian armed forces.

The Indian armed forces are involved in a wide range of deployments in remote theatres, conducting operations beyond the scope of traditional homeland defence. For this reason, they need to round out their available resources with a view to boosting their tactical capability.

Thales’s 2.75-inch (70-mm) rocket launchers are produced using composite material, making them an average of 50% lighter than metal launchers, and eliminating corrosion issues. They offer best-in-class precision and reliability, providing crews with optimum support during missions. The solution to be supplied by Thales includes four 2.75-inch (70-mm) 12-tube rocket launchers, plus fire control capability and the T100 sighting system, as supplied under previous orders (more than 80 Advanced Light Helicopters have already been equipped with the solution). The huge range of 2.75-inch (70-mm) munitions available for use with the launchers, from conventional rockets to Thales’s laser-guided variant, encompasses a broad spectrum of the missions facing today’s armed forces.

“This new collaboration between Thales and HAL in the field of air-launched weaponry opens up new opportunities for the supply of equipment to the Indian armed forces, and consolidates Thales’s position in the Indian market. With this, helicopter crews will see a significant improvement in their tactical capabilities during missions,” said Emmanuel de Roquefeuil, VP and Country Director, Thales in India.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Thales: a 50-year partnership

The excellent level of cooperation between Thales and HAL has enabled the first upgraded Mirage 2000 to be supplied on time and in line with performance targets.

Thales has provided avionics equipment for platforms designed by HAL.

We remain open to all relevant opportunities for supporting the enhancement of key defence programmes and the military preparedness of the country (for example, the Indian LCA programme, including AESA and EWS requirements).

 THALES PR