India has signed defence deals worth over $2 billion with Israel

India and Israel have signed mega defence deals worth over $2 billion for advanced surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, designed to destroy hostile aircraft, missiles and drones within 70 km range.

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This would strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership that both countries share. PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Tel Aviv in July this year.

As per defence sources, the deal took place between India’s DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the Barak-8 medium-range SAM systems to initially include one regiment of 16 launchers and 560 missiles for the Indian Army.

Another deal was done for a similar SAM system to be fitted on board India’s 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which is being built at the Cochin Shipyard.

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Two similar DRDO-IAI programmes are already underway for the next-generation SAMs for Indian warships and nine air defence squadrons for the Indian Air Force. These projects are worth Rs 2,606 crore for Rs 10,076 crore, respectively.

These Barak-8 systems, with their MF-STARs (multi-function surveillance and threat alert radars) as well as weapon control systems with data links will be able to detect and track hostile aerial threats within a range of 100 kms, while being able to destroy them within 70 km range.

Thus, they will be helping in filling the existing holes in India's air defence coverage.

However, these SAM systems have been questioned in the past, both for their exorbitant costs as well as long delays in their delivery schedules, taking years to be delivered.

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Israel is among the top three defence suppliers to India and both countries have inked deals and projects worth around $10 billion over the last 15 years. Over the past two years, Israel has bagged seven contracts from Indian defence sector.

(Image source AIN Online)