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U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin is reportedly exploring the possibility of cooperating with India on ballistic missile defense (BMD). Though it is not yet clear how much overt White House support such a situation would have, the prospects bear consideration at a time when Moscow and Washington are competing for New Delhi’s favor.
India
India’s indigenous Akash program (which now appears to encompass the “exo-atmospheric intercept system” project as well) reportedly has remained under the aegis of the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), though its development history dates back to 1985. Though initially intended for operational deployment after the turn of the century, the Akash instead remained a DRDO project. Its latest iteration is said to have limited BMD capability, evinced by a series of reportedly successful intercepts.
However, India’s indigenous programs do not have a particularly stellar track record. Programs ranging from submarine nuclear propulsion to anti-tank guided missiles are chronically behind schedule and ultimately produce inferior finished products. This is not to say that the Indians are not learning or gaining valuable experience with their efforts; just that such efforts often remain frustratingly unfruitful. Thus, the DRDO announced this month that it would seek to increase foreign collaboration on many of its indigenous defense efforts.
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