Israel Military Industries (IMI) will open an office in New Delhi and is planning to collaborate with India’s defense industry. IMI has designated India as one of its key target markets, and estimates potential arms sales at $1 billion.
IMI declined to provide details about its deals with Indian defense companies. This week at the Aero India 2003 defense exhibition in Bangalore. in southern India, IMI showed the Indian Army several weapons it has developed, including anti-concrete and anti-runway bombs.
The Ministry of Defense supports arms sales to India, provided they are discrete so as not to arouse the ire of Washington. Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is delivering $300 million worth of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and is interested in supplying the Arrow anti-missile defense system. IAI is also negotiating to sell the Phalcon AWACs plane. Tadiran Communications (TASE:TDCM) is also providing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of equipment.
Other arms deals with India include Barak ship point missile defense system and Elta Electronics Industries’ Green Pine missile detection radar. Israel will also train thousands of Indian Army soldiers in the war against Pakistan-backed Kashmiri separatists. Reports this week in India claim that the government had signed a $30 million contract with Israeli defense companies to buy arms for India’s special forces.
In contrast with the secrecy surrounding IMI’s relations with India, its artillery competitor Soltam Systems has announced that it will supply tens of millions of dollars worth of artillery to the Indian Army. The artillery recently underwent a series of field tests.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on February 3, 2003