The Indian Air Force (IAF) is in advanced negotiations with Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd. and MBDA of France for a $239 million contract to procure the Spyder SR short-range air defense system.
The Spider air defense system combines two types of air-to-air missiles developed by Rafael which have been converted into an air defense system. One missile is the Python 5, designed for short-range aerial combat; the other is the Derby, designed for medium-range aerial combat of up to 50 kilometers.
“Aviation Week” reports that the parties are waiting for the Indian cabinet’s defense committee to give final approval for the deal.
The Spyder will replace India’s current Russian-made OSA-AKM air defense system and the Strela-10M surface-to-air missile.
Rafael says the Spyder provides rapid response to air attack by planes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and is also effective in intercepting precision weapons. The Spyder is intended to provide air defense both for ground forces in the combat zone and for strategic sites. The Spyder’s two missiles are equipped with internal radar systems and a combined radar system made by Elta Systems.
The missiles are fired from a truck based launcher with four missile launchers, which can be fired simultaneously at different targets at different ranges. The missiles’ interception envelope is 1-15 kilometers, and at altitudes of 9,000-20,000 meters.
Rafael said that the company’s representatives were holding serious negotiations with Indian Ministry of Defence officials, but that it had not yet been notified if it had won the tender.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on September 25, 2006
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