Indian Navy’s deal with Israel

More of Barak-8 missiles aboard Indian ships

Business & Politics

May 24, 2017

/ By / New Delhi



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Over the years, India has been Israel’s largest buyer of military hardware and with the new deal of the Barak-8 missiles, it has only taken forward its diplomatic relations of 25 years.

The Indian navy has given the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) an additional USD 630 million contract to supply air defence missile systems for four of its ships.

Israel’s Barack-8 long-range surface-to-air missile system has been successfully tested aboard an Indian navy ship.  During the trial scenario, an airborne threat was identified and an intercepting missile was launched and destroyed the target.

The Barak-8 incorporates state-of-the-art phased array multi-mission radar, two-way data link, and a flexible command and control system, enabling users to simultaneously engage multiple targets, be it day or night, and in all weather conditions; and it has been designed to defend against a variety of short-to-long -range airborne threats, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, drones and projectiles.

For the first time state owned Bharat Electronics Ltd is serving as the main contractor in the project as part of India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ policy.

Earlier this year IAI had struck a deal worth almost USD 2 billion to supply India’s army and navy with missile defence systems. The deal for Barak-8 air defence missile systems for the navy was signed when the Indian Prime Minister visited Israel’s city of Tel Aviv in April.

Previously the system was jointly developed by IAI, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Israel’s Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure, Elta Systems, Rafael and other companies.

With diplomatic relation between the two countries holding strong for 25 years, Israel is one of the top three arms suppliers to India. Israel has in fact, been supplying various weapon systems, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to India over the last few years but the transactions have largely remained undisclosed. Nonetheless, it is known that India is the largest buyer of Israel’s military hardware.

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