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Mix-Ansicht- Israeli weapons give India's troops strategic advantage - dira, 02.01.2002, 22:48
Israeli weapons give India's troops strategic advantage
<h2>Israeli weapons give India's troops strategic advantage</h2>
<h3>By Ellis Shuman January 1, 2002</h3>
Despite reassurances by their leaders that both India and Pakistan do not want war, troops remain on alert along the border between the two countries following their biggest military build-up in years. If hostilities escalate further, India's use of Israeli-made weapons and technology may give it a strategic advantage over its long-time enemy.
According to unconfirmed media reports, Israel is India's second largest defense supplier. Defense transactions exceeding $3 billion have been signed or are in the pipeline between the two countries, and Israel may soon overtake Russia, the current leading exporter to the Indian market. Israel is considered the fifth largest exporter of weapons in the world.
The cooperation between Israel and India, according to the reports, extends to intelligence sharing, counter-insurgency operations and border management. High-level visits have given final shape to bilateral agreements, and a joint ministerial committee for exchanging intelligence on Islamic terrorism has reportedly been established.
In November, Israeli Defense Ministry officials, led by Director-General Amos Yaron, traveled to New Delhi to push further arms sales. Yaron's trip came after his Indian counterpart, Subir Dutta, visited Israel in July. At that time, the Indians reached an agreement with Israeli defense contractors to supply India with Israeli weapons and technology, the Jerusalem Post reported. BBC reported that Israel Aircraft Industries would supply India with aircraft, radar systems and surface-to-surface missiles in a weapons contract worth $2 billion.
The various Israeli weapons systems purchased in the past, or being considered by India include:
Phalcon - According to a report in Ha'aretz, the United States gave Israel the green light to sell its Phalcon airborne radar warning system to India. Last year, Israel bowed to American pressure to cancel a similar deal with China, resulting in a Chinese demand for financial compensation.
Defense News reported in December that Israel plans to conclude an estimated $1 billion sale of the early warning aircraft to India, even though the deal could further strain Israel's relationship with China."The deal is essentially complete; all that remains are a few technicalities," a Defense Ministry official said.
According to Defense News, Elta Electronics Industries, an Ashdod-based subsidiary of Israel Aircraft Industries, will serve as prime contractor for the program.
Green Pine Radar - According to Jane's Defense News, the Green Pine Radar system is already deployed in India. The radar system, developed for Israel's Arrow anti-missile missile, is a transportable ground-based multimode solid-state phased array radar, capable of predicting impact points of incoming tactical ballistic missiles.
The Green Pine radar's strategic value along the Indian-Pakistani border is reportedly inestimable."It covers all of Pakistan's military command centers and bases between Islamabad, the capital, and the Indian frontier," DEBKAfile reports. The system reportedly provides India with surveillance of Pakistan's nuclear centers and missile sites.
Searcher Mark II - The Indian Army has reportedly deployed its first batch of 25 Israeli-made Searcher Mark II unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over its frontiers with Pakistan and China. According to DEBKAfile, India has purchased 100 of the reconnaissance drones at a cost of $750 million and may double this order. The Searcher Mark II is produced by Israel Aircraft Industries. It can remain airborne for 16 hours and has a maximum range of 150 kilometers at the relatively high altitude of 18,500 feet, making it especially suitable for missions over the Himalayas.
Harpy UAV - According to media reports, the Indian army has purchased a number of the armed Harpy drone, produced by Israel Aircraft Industries. Harpy has been in operation in the Israeli Air Force for many years -- it was used in the 1973 Yom Kippur War against Syria. The Harpy is typically tasked to destroy surface-to-air missile sites and anti-aircraft guns by attacking them in kamikaze-like destructive attacks.
Litening - According to media reports, the Indian Air Force has equipped some of its fighter aircraft with the Litening navigation system. The system, developed by Rafael, is among the world's most advanced infrared airborne navigation and targeting guides for directing missiles and bombs.
Python 4 - The Indian Air Force has reportedly purchased the Python 4 air-to-air missile. The missile, produced by Rafael, is considered one of the most advanced short distance missiles in the world.
In the past, Israel has sold ammunition, patrol boats and electronic warfare components to India's navy, and arms deals between the countries reportedly include the upgrading of 125 MIG aircraft in the Indian Air Force. A deal was recently signed with Rafael to supply the Indian Navy with the Barak anti-ship missile defense system, reportedly worth $270 million.
According to the Asian Age, Haifa-based Soltam Defense was contracted to upgrade the Indian army's 130mm M46 field guns to 155mm and will also provide kits to India's Ordnance Factory Board. Israel is also cleared to supply 40,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition and another 30,000 rounds of 160mm mortar shells, the paper reported.
If hostilities break out between India and Pakistan, Israeli officials believe that India's Israeli weapons and technology will give it an advantage over Pakistan's army, which is equipped mostly with weapons purchased in China and outdated Western weapons, Yediot Aharonot reported.
Israel and India established formal diplomatic relations in 1992. Pakistan has a long history of trying to isolate and delegitimize Israel and actively championed the PLO long before it was internationally fashionable to do so. In recent years, Pakistani leaders have said they continue to reject relations with Israel as long as it occupies Arab land.
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