March 04, 2013: After years in discussions, the Indo-French 'Maitri' short-range surface-to-air missile (SR-SAM) programme is ready to be concluded. During the recent visit of French President Francois Hollande, it was revealed in a joint statement that negotiations on the $6-billion programme had been concluded and that an agreement would be signed shortly. Incidentally, work has already begun on the missile itself, to be called 'Maitri'. India's DRDO will be lead partner in the SR-SAM programme, with MBDA providing critical technologies (seeker, thrust-vectoring, endgame avionics, propulsion) as part of a workshare agreement that has now been made final. The SR-SAM will be built for tri-service applications, including a naval version with a point defence capability, along with the Revathi radar.

In 2011, MBDA revealed that the SR-SAM would be offered to the Indian Army for two prospective acquisitions for SR-SAMs and QR-SAMs, since this would provide "enhanced synergies". The SR-SAM is being developed with a range of 15 km, a max altitude of 3 km with a sea-skimming mode, with a vertical launch multiple target capability. It will sport a smokeless solid rocket motor, low aspect ratio wings and jet vane control for thrust vector control.