Israel has emerged as India's largest defence supplier, overtaking Russia, signing defence deals worth a whopping $9 billion with New Delhi during the past decade.
Israel has emerged as India's largest defence supplier, overtaking Russia, as Tel Aviv has signed defence deals worth a whopping USD 9 billion with New Delhi during the past decade, a media report here said on Sunday.
"There is close cooperation and the Indians respect Israeli systems and our experience in fighting terror," a defence official was quoted as saying by 'The Jerusalem Post'.
Russia had averaged sales of USD 875 million annually to India for the past 40 years.
In the wake of recent Mumbai terror attacks, India has also purchased from the Jewish state the aerostat radar system to help defend the country's coastline in a deal valued at USD 600 million, the daily said.
The radars will be deployed in strategic points to provide advance warning against incoming enemy aircraft and missiles, the report said.
The EL/M-2083 Aerostat radars are a simpler version of the Green Pine radar, made by Israel Aerospace Industries, and used by the Arrow missile defence system.
The phased-array radars are mounted on blimp-like balloons tethered to the ground and capable of detecting intrusions earlier than ground based radar systems.
Israel and India have also agreed upon the joint development of medium-range surface-to-air missiles (MRSAM) for the Air Force, the report said.
New Delhi is also expected to receive the first of three new Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), part of a USD 1.1 billion deal signed between the two countries, by March, it said.
The sides are said to be in talks for the possible purchase of another three AWACS.
India's defence ministry has reportedly also approved a USD 2.5 billion joint IAI-Rafael deal to develop a new and advanced version of the Spyder surface-to-air missile system.
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