Indian Army Signs $468 Million Deal with Thales for Lightweight Modular Missiles to Counter Drone Threats
In a significant boost to India’s air defense capabilities, the Indian Army has finalized a $468 million contract with French defense giant Thales for the procurement of Lightweight Modular Missiles (LMM). This deal, announced on October 16, 2025, comes in the wake of lessons learned from Operation Sindoor earlier this year, where drone threats played a prominent role in border skirmishes.
The LMM systems are precision-guided interceptors designed to neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), low-flying aircraft, and even small boats in littoral environments. Each missile weighs just 13 kg, making it highly portable and integrable with existing platforms like helicopters, ground vehicles, and naval vessels. The Indian Army plans to deploy these along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, enhancing layered defenses against evolving aerial threats.
According to defense analysts, this acquisition aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by including technology transfer clauses, allowing local production at facilities like Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). The missiles feature advanced seekers for day-night operations and can engage targets up to 8 km away at speeds exceeding Mach 1.5. Initial deliveries are expected by mid-2026, with full operational capability by 2028.
This move underscores the growing emphasis on counter-drone technologies amid rising global incidents, positioning India as a key player in modern warfare adaptations. Experts predict it could deter adversarial drone swarms, which have become a staple in hybrid conflicts.
Keywords: Indian Army, Thales, Lightweight Modular Missiles, drone threats, Operation Sindoor, air defense, Atmanirbhar Bharat, border security
