Cruelbreed
11-09-2008, 07:23 PM
Not sure what implication this might have on the U.S. Perhaps Israel's relations with India might have a positive effect on the U.S. relationship, considering Israel is so heavily funded by the U.S.
NEW DELHI: It seems there are simply no full-stops in the Indo-Israeli strategic partnership despite geopolitical sensitivities as well as
allegations of kickbacks in defence deals. All set to further ramp up the already expansive defence ties, a top Indian delegation will leave for Israel on Sunday to discuss joint R&D projects, missile defence, procurements, intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism strategies, said sources.
Led by defence secretary Vijay Singh, the Indian delegation will hold talks with the Israeli side under the joint working group on defence cooperation from November 10 to 12. The Indian side will be represented by IAF deputy chief Air Marshal N A K Browne, Army deputy chief (planning and systems) M S Dadwal, Navy assistant chief (policy and plans) Rear Admiral Girish Luthra and DRDO chief controller Prahlada, among others.
During the talks, India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/New_heights_India_Israel_step_up_defence_ties/articleshow/3690525.cms#) will also seek Israel's assurance that there will be no further delay in the delivery schedule of the much-awaited three Israeli Phalcon AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) to IAF. As per the revised timeframe, the first AWACS, initially slated to be delivered in November 2007 under the $1.1 billion deal signed in March 2004, is to be delivered in February 2009, with the second and third ones coming in September 2009 and April 2010.
The robust defence engagement between the two countries, which saw India buy military hardware and software from Israel worth around $8 billion since the 1999 Kargil conflict, has continued despite Delhi's foreign policy sensitivity to the Muslim Middle-East. The only difference has been that while the previous NDA regime had brought the relationship out of the closet, the UPA government has pushed it back in, eager to keep it away from prying eyes.
There is, of course, also the shadow of the CBI probe into the kickbacks in the Rs 1,160-crore Barak-I deal hanging over the relationship, with Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael being named in the case. The defence ministry, on its part, has decided that since the Barak-I case is under CBI investigation, the final clearance for a new project or deal involving the two Israeli firms will be taken from the Cabinet Committee on Security and the "competent financial authority" before it is actually inked. The ongoing joint DRDO-IAI project to develop a supersonic 70-km-range Barak-2 missile defence system at a cost of Rs 2,606 crore for Navy, for instance, has not been rolled back.
The UPA government has also cleared the mammoth Rs 10,000 crore project with Israel to develop a new-generation surface-to-air missile system, capable of detecting and destroying hostile aircraft and spy drones at a range of 120-km, to boost IAF's air defence capabilities. Under this, IAF plans to induct nine air defence squadrons initially.
Then, of course, India is on course to buy 18 low-level quick-reaction missile systems SpyDer systems for around Rs 1,800 crore, and four more EL/M-2083 Aerostat radars for around Rs 145 crore in the near future.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/New_heights_India_Israel_step_up_defence_ties/articleshow/3690525.cms
NEW DELHI: It seems there are simply no full-stops in the Indo-Israeli strategic partnership despite geopolitical sensitivities as well as
allegations of kickbacks in defence deals. All set to further ramp up the already expansive defence ties, a top Indian delegation will leave for Israel on Sunday to discuss joint R&D projects, missile defence, procurements, intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism strategies, said sources.
Led by defence secretary Vijay Singh, the Indian delegation will hold talks with the Israeli side under the joint working group on defence cooperation from November 10 to 12. The Indian side will be represented by IAF deputy chief Air Marshal N A K Browne, Army deputy chief (planning and systems) M S Dadwal, Navy assistant chief (policy and plans) Rear Admiral Girish Luthra and DRDO chief controller Prahlada, among others.
During the talks, India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/New_heights_India_Israel_step_up_defence_ties/articleshow/3690525.cms#) will also seek Israel's assurance that there will be no further delay in the delivery schedule of the much-awaited three Israeli Phalcon AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) to IAF. As per the revised timeframe, the first AWACS, initially slated to be delivered in November 2007 under the $1.1 billion deal signed in March 2004, is to be delivered in February 2009, with the second and third ones coming in September 2009 and April 2010.
The robust defence engagement between the two countries, which saw India buy military hardware and software from Israel worth around $8 billion since the 1999 Kargil conflict, has continued despite Delhi's foreign policy sensitivity to the Muslim Middle-East. The only difference has been that while the previous NDA regime had brought the relationship out of the closet, the UPA government has pushed it back in, eager to keep it away from prying eyes.
There is, of course, also the shadow of the CBI probe into the kickbacks in the Rs 1,160-crore Barak-I deal hanging over the relationship, with Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael being named in the case. The defence ministry, on its part, has decided that since the Barak-I case is under CBI investigation, the final clearance for a new project or deal involving the two Israeli firms will be taken from the Cabinet Committee on Security and the "competent financial authority" before it is actually inked. The ongoing joint DRDO-IAI project to develop a supersonic 70-km-range Barak-2 missile defence system at a cost of Rs 2,606 crore for Navy, for instance, has not been rolled back.
The UPA government has also cleared the mammoth Rs 10,000 crore project with Israel to develop a new-generation surface-to-air missile system, capable of detecting and destroying hostile aircraft and spy drones at a range of 120-km, to boost IAF's air defence capabilities. Under this, IAF plans to induct nine air defence squadrons initially.
Then, of course, India is on course to buy 18 low-level quick-reaction missile systems SpyDer systems for around Rs 1,800 crore, and four more EL/M-2083 Aerostat radars for around Rs 145 crore in the near future.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/New_heights_India_Israel_step_up_defence_ties/articleshow/3690525.cms