India-Israel to develop hi-tech weapon systems: A new Sub-group set up

On September 24, 2020, a new sub group was set up under Ministry of Defence to promote a greater number of India-Israel defence projects. Under the group, India and Israel have planned to develop high-tech weapons and export to other friendly countries. The main focus on the cooperation is Technology Transfer.

The group is to be headed by Sanju Jaju, the Joint Secretary in Indian Defence Ministry.

Highlights

Israel is one of the top four arms suppliers to India for over two decades. India is currently inducting next generation Barak-8 missiles (surface to air) under three joint DRDO-IAI (Israeli Aerospace Industries) projects of worth Rs 30,000 crores.

The annual sales of weapons between India and Israel is 1 billion USD.

India-Israel

• India is acquiring 66 air defence fire control radars for Rs 4,577 cores. This includes radars from Aerostat to Green Pine radars
• India will induct two Phalcon AWACS under 1.1 billion USD deal with Israel. These AWACS weapons systems are to be mounted on IL-76 aircraft
• Derby Air-to-air missiles, Spyder quick reaction anti-aircraft missile and Python air-to-air missiles are also to be inducted into Indian Defence System.
• More than 100 Israeli Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have been inducted into Indian Defence System. This includes Heron surveillance UAV, Hardop killer drones. Project Cheetah was launched to fit Heron drones with missiles at a cost of Rs 3,500 crores.

Project Cheetah

The project was revived by the Indian Army in August 2020. Under the project, 90 Heron drones are to be upgraded and armed with laser guided bombs, air launched anti-tank guided missiles and air to ground missiles. They were deployed in Ladakh region.

Background

In order to boost defence production Israeli companies such as Elbit, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems have inked Memorandum of Understandings with Indian firms.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2020