India, Israel to jointly develop $2.5 billion missile defense system
LONDON — India and Israel have agreed to the joint development of an
air and missile defense system.
Indian sources said New Dehli has agreed to pay $2.5 billion to develop
an air and missile defense umbrella in a project with Israel. The sources
said the project
envisioned a network of batteries that could intercept incoming missiles,
aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.
"India will jointly develop and co-produce a new generation of medium
range surface-to-air missiles with Israel to secure the country's strategic
assets from growing threats posed by aerial attacks and the proliferation of
missiles in the region," the New Dehli-based Indian Government News
reported.
Israel has not confirmed the report. Over the last five years, Israel
has sold India the Green Pine long-range early-warning radar, part of the
Arrow-2 missile defense system, Middle East Newsline reported.
The system would be capable of detecting missile launches up to 500
kilometers
away. The defense umbrella would fire interceptors that could down enemy air
assets at a range of 70 kilometers.
The agreement called for a joint venture to develop interceptors. On
July 12, the Indian Cabinet Security Committee, chaired by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, approved the project.
The project would be led by the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries,
Indian Air Force and Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation.
DRDO has been deemed the prime contractor of the missile defense system.
The proposed system would replace a range of Soviet-era anti-aircraft
batteries. India has deployed the S-125 Pechora, a 1960s surface-to-air
missile.
