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  • ISRAELI SAM system for IAF

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    IAF to add teeth with Israeli missile system
    18 Aug 2008, 0040 hrs IST, Rajat Pandit,TNN


    NEW DELHI: The long-delayed IAF plans to plug gaps in its air defence capabilities are finally making some headway now, with the government giving the go-ahead for the procurement of SpyDer low-level quick-reaction missile systems from Israel.

    Sources said the deal for the 18 SpyDer systems, at a cost over Rs 1,800 crore, should be "inked within a few weeks" after being approved by the Defence Acquisitions Council. The deal has been hanging fire for quite some time now, with one of the main reasons being the naming of Israeli Aerospace Industries and Rafael in the Rs 1,160 crore Barak-I deal kickbacks case by the CBI.

    The government, however, was reluctant to blacklist these Israeli armament firms since it would have proven "counter-productive" with several "crucial" defence projects underway with them. Now, with the Left albatross no longer hanging around its neck, the government seems to be quietly moving ahead with procurements and projects with Israel. These include the projects to develop new-generation 'Barak' surface-to-air (SAM) missile systems.

    The IAF had pushed for the SpyDer systems, which have Python-5 and Derby missiles to take on hostile aircraft, helicopters, drones and PGMs (precision-guided munitions), due to persistent delays in the indigenous Akash and Trishul SAM systems. Interestingly, DRDO earlier this year declared that the Akash air defence system, with an interception range of 25-km, was now ready. It promised to deliver an initial two Akash squadrons to IAF, at a cost of Rs 1,081 crore, within three years.

    The IAF, of course, is in desperate need of advanced air defence systems to replace its ageing fleet of Russian-origin Pechora, IGLA and OSA-AK missile systems. The gigantic Rs 10,000 crore project with Israel to develop an advanced new-generation SAM system, capable of detecting and destroying hostile aircraft, missiles and spy drones at a range of 120-km, will go a long way in boosting IAF's air defence capabilities to protect "vital and strategic assets".

    This project, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security in July 2007, will provide IAF with an initial nine air defence squadrons. It's actually an extension of the ongoing DRDO-IAI project, cleared in January 2006 at a cost of Rs 2,606 crore, to develop a supersonic 70-km-range Barak-2 missile defence system for the Navy. This naval long-range SAM (LR-SAM) system basically has four components: the multi-function surveillance and threat alert radars, with a 350-km range; the weapon control system with data links; the vertical launch units; and the actual two-stage interceptor missiles.

    "With most of the design work now over, this LR-SAM project should be completed by 2011. The three Kolkata-class guided-missile destroyers being built at Mazagon Docks will be the first to be equipped with them," said a source. These projects, one again, underline the emergence of Israel as India's second largest defence partner since the 1999 Kargil conflict, with New Delhi sourcing armaments worth a staggering $8 billion from Tel Aviv.
    systems like these can render the harpoons and exocets in the pakistani navy useless, also babur won't be much help either.

  • #2
    Originally posted by bengalraider View Post
    systems like these can render the harpoons and exocets in the pakistani navy useless, also babur won't be much help either.

    Nah, they will just come in under it. They are called sea skimmers for a reason. And not required to use the pop up mode of attack.


    But it is a good last ditch self defense system.

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    • #3
      I
      sraeli firms set to get another defence deal
      Josy Joseph
      Thursday, September 11, 2008 04:34 IST


      Central vigilance panel clears Rs10,400cr joint venture for missiles

      NEW DELHI: In an unusual development, the Central Vigilance Commission has given the go-ahead for a massive joint venture with two Israeli defence firms that are under investigation for kickbacks in the Barak missile scandal.

      The JV that involves Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael teaming up with India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Air Force to build medium range surface-to-air missiles (MRSAMs) could be kickstarted very soon, sources said. The deal, worth Rs10,400 crore, would be India’s biggest defence JV with a foreign country.

      The CVC clearance for the project — it has been on hold since June 2007 despite approval from the cabinet committee on security — has caused surprise in official circles. For, a few months ago, the law ministry had given a very ambivalent opinion on the JV when the ministry of defence (MoD) referred the matter to it.

      Sources said the CVC clearance for the deal came in the last week of August and the “file is being processed”. The CVC approval is a clear departure from the government’s policy on defence scandals and middlemen. Over the past few decades, the government has blacklisted firms such as Bofors and Denel of South Africa when allegations rose of them paying middlemen, even before clear evidence was found of corruption. Official circles were, however, reticent on the latest development.

      The CBI has claimed in its Barak chargesheet that it has found evidence of kickbacks in the original Barak deal of 1999-2000. That Rs1,150-crore deal for the purchase of seven Barak-1 anti-missile defence systems made by Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael had been opposed by the DRDO. The CBI has named then defence minister George Fernandes, then navy chief Admiral Susheel Kumar, and arms dealer Suresh Nanda among others in the deal.The investigations started after Fernandes’s Samata Party’s treasurer RK Jain was caught on camera speaking about kickbacks, in a sting operation carried out by Tehelka.

      The CVC clearance now reflects the unprecedented run Israel is having in the Indian defence market. Only a few days ago, the cabinet committee on security cleared the outright purchase of Spyder low-level quick reaction missiles from the same Israeli consortium of IAI and Rafael. The Israeli consortium already has a programme in collaboration with DRDO under way for developing a ship-borne next generation Barak (called Barak NG) for the Indian Navy.

      However, the move to now firm up a JV with IAI-Rafael would have much more serious repercussions for the future, because of the virtual monopoly it would offer the Israelis in IAF’s MRSAM domain.

      Sources said the proposed MRSAM JV would initially build two regiments, 36 numbers, for the IAF. Only the missile launcher and the command post would be made in India, the rest of the complex system including the missile itself would be made in Israel.

      The proposed MRSAM will replace the old Pechora missiles of the IAF, and would have a range of about 70 km. DRDO will station at least 25 of its scientists in Israel for the project. The first prototype is planned in about two and a half years and the development would be completed in five years from its start.
      revamp of entire SAM network in the offing

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      • #4
        Just a question though, Should not make such Missiles in house. I mean for the time being we can enter this JV.

        I am not sure if anyone has noticed it or not but we are spending too much on Futuristic Weapons Systems like MCA,BMD etc and at the same time, systems not that toooooo complex as BMD,we are simply importing it. The cost of this JV is well in excess of 10,000 Crores. We should do such systems inhouse and do things like BMD etc later on.

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        • #5
          relax man 10,000 crores is equal to 2 gorshkov's if that amount gets us some good experience and expertise in indigenous SAM development and contributes to a better air defence system i think we should go for it,
          what happened to the maitri SAM project with MBDA though???

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          • #6
            Originally posted by bengalraider View Post
            what happened to the maitri SAM project with MBDA though???

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