Military - Articles

Indo-Israel Defence Cooperation: A Step in the Right Direction

On November 26, 2007, the Defence Minister AK Antony, while replying to a question in Lok Sabha, said that there is a proposal to develop advanced medium range surface-to-air missile in collaboration with Israel. This is in continuation with India-Israel defence tie focused on modernization and upgradation of military equipment to meet New Delhi's defence requirements. With Israel as India's No.2 defence supplier after Russia, India-Israel defence cooperation has taken a strategic shift in recent times when India decided to spend a major chunk of its spending on defence purchases from Israel. Since 2000, India has bought military hardware and software worth US$7 billion from Israel, with US$1.5 billion in 2006 alone.

Way back in 1996 when the Israeli President Weizman visited India he expressed Israel's keenness on lending expertise in fields of missiles technology and avionics to India. Israel also offered both investment and technical cooperation in production of military aircraft, reverse engineering and upgradation of weapon systems. India-Israel defence ties gained momentum since 1998 when India began defence purchases from Israel. In September 2004, India had talks with Israel about joint production of a long-range missile under which Israel's defence industry was bidding for the upgrade of the Indian Air Force's MIG-27 strike aircraft, the avionics upgrade of the Indian Navy's Ka-25 anti-submarine helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft. In August 2007, India proposed defence collaboration with Israel in developing sophisticated unmanned combat helicopters for the Navy, which would need 40-50 such helicopters, and which was called a revolutionary step for the navies of both countries.

However, the most notable venture is missile systems under the US$2.5 billion joint project to develop an advanced Barak medium-range surface-to-air missile system for IAF and Army. The latest collaboration will further deepen India-Israel cooperation on missile development, under which the two countries aim to develop an improved version of the vertically launched Barak-8, or Barak NG missile. The surface-to-air missile will have an even longer range than the Barak 8, reaching up to 150 kilometers instead of the current 70. Israel has a two-tiered missile defence system: first, the Arrow Weapon System, which is to intercept ballistic missiles in their final phase of flight or before entering its territory; and second, it would shoot down the enemy's missiles before it hits the target

In addition to the technical help to our unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programmes, Israel has proposed selling the 'Skylite-B' micro-UAVs for Indian Special Forces. Under the US$1.1-billion AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) project, Israel will provide "Phalcons"("eyes in the skies") from mid-2008 onwards to detect enemy air intrusions. Besides, India is keen to procure four more EL/M-2083 Aerostat radars, similar to the radars inducted in 2004-05. India had earlier bought 14 Barak-I anti-missile defence systems for the Navy followed by the Python air-to-air missiles, Crystal Maze PGMs, Derby air-to-air missiles, Delilah-II air-launched cruise missiles and Gabriel-III sea-skimming anti-ship missiles.

Israel's defence industries have earned a global reputation for upgrading old weapon systems to latest technological capabilities. Israel has done it for a number of countries. Israel's technological advances in the fields of satellites, satellite imagery, missiles, rockets and nuclear field are appreciable. With huge investments in research and development, Israeli weapon systems are considered the cutting edge in various areas of the international arms market, even compared to American and European products. Israel's state-of-the-art weapon systems will help India in restructuring its armed forces to meet the defence requirements of the 21st century.

With costs of Russian spare parts escalating by 300-500 per cent, Israel may emerge as India's No. 1 defence supplier soon. After assisting in the US$626 million upgrade of 125 MIG-21 'Bisons', Israel will now be involved in upgrades of Mirage-2000 and MiG-29 fighters, as well as TU-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft and Mi-17 helicopters. Israel is already providing 'litening pods', used for precision-targeting with laser-guided bombs, for Jaguars and Mirage-2000s. Israel is also part of the approximately US$120 million upgrade of 14 naval Sea Harrier jump-jets. Besides, Israel is also involved in the Army's artillery modernization programme, F-INSAS (future infantry soldier as a system) project and the upgrade of its T-72 tank fleet.

Israel can be a trusted partner in defence deals, as it responded magnificently, despite pressures from various quarters. For example, despite pressure not to supply UAVs for high altitude surveillance, laser - guided systems and many other items, it supplied them within 24 hours during the Kargil War. In terms of India's national interests vis-à-vis its present external and internal threats, the imperatives of strategic cooperation with Israel willing to contribute to enhancement of India's security, becomes inescapable. Moreover, a close India-Israel defence pact would help India learn how to tone up intelligence mechanisms to meet the challenges from both internal and external threats.

Given its unfriendly neighbours with nuclear capabilities, India needs the most advanced missile system to defend its national boundaries. Hence, bilateral defence collaboration with Israel is purely based on India's national interests and requirement and does not come in the way of the mutually beneficial cooperation that India shares with friendly Middle East countries.