Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) manufactured missiles were seized in a private house in New Delhi and confiscated by the Indian Police. The missiles were part of a consignment to the Indian Air Force, and were apparently to used in tests.
The incident occurred on September 17. Reports from New Delhi claim the missiles arrived in India in a specially chartered plane. 13 boxes, containing three missiles and their guidance systems, were seized in the house. The make and precise details of the missiles were not disclosed.
Indian television reports claim the missiles were each two meters long. The details resemble air-to-air missiles. The consignment was seized in the house of a Mr. Jitendar Vyas, apparently an authorized Indian Air Force transport agent. The house is in the Kalkaji neighborhood of New Delhi
The missiles were apparently en route to the Indian Air Force base at Jaisalmer, in western India. The reports imply that the missiles entered India legally.
Indian television quoted Police Assistant Commissioner of Police Vijay Malik as saying that the missiles did not contain explosives. The Indian Air Force confirmed that Vyas had the missiles in his home, and had not delivered them to the Air Force base as planned.
Indian reports claim that the discovery of missiles in a private home raised concern about public safety arising from the ease at which dangerous military hardware could be stored in civilian areas.
Indian defense sources responded by saying that its existing safety measures were adequate, and there was no need to reexamine import permits as a result of this affair.
An Indian Air Force spokesman said, "As usual, the manufacturer offered its systems to test for us. In the end, it was decided not to conduct the test, but instead of transferring the equipment to a secure location, he moved it to a residential area, where it was confiscated by the police. The manufacturer contacted us for help in returning its equipment."
The Indian Air Force added that there were two possibilities regarding the missiles' future: returning them to IAI, or sending them to an Indian Air Force logistics facility authorized to handle explosives and sensitive military technologies. The Indian Ministry of Defense usually allows foreign manufacturers to demonstrate their products on a "no cost and no commitments" basis on the ministry's part.
In recent years, India has become one of the largest buyers of Israeli arms, with over $2 billion in deals last year. IAI is the largest Israeli defense contractor in India, supplying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), electronic warfare systems, radars, and upgrading equipment. IAI is about to sign a $1.25 billion deal to supply Phalcon AWACS planes.
A reserve Indian Army colonel said it was obvious that someone made a mistake if the Israeli company was authorized to cancel the demonstration and keep the missiles in a civilian location.
IAI declined to comment to the report today.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on October 7, 2003