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India and Israel are about to conclude three military deals valued at around $3 billion 31102161.
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Defence & Security News - India, Israel
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| India and Israel are about to conclude three military deals valued at around $3 billion | |||
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India is close to concluding a three military deals and projects with Israel, collectively worth around $3 billion, ahead of PM Narendra Modi's first visit to the country later this year. At least three deals with Tel Aviv are headed to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for the final nod, which will consolidate Israel's position as one of the top three arms suppliers to India, defence ministry sources said on Monday.
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The main pact concerns the joint development of a medium-range surface-to-air missile system for Indian Army with some $1.4 million to be invested by both sides. The deal is undergoing financial vetting after conclusion of final contract negotiations.
The pacts include the acquisition of 164 laser-designation pods or 'Litening-4' for IAF fighters like Sukhoi-30MKIs and Jaguars as well as 250 advanced 'Spice' precision stand-off bombs capable of taking out fortified enemy underground command centres. "It should be cleared by the CCS within a month or so," said an MoD source. Some headway has been made over the stalled negotiations for 321 'Spike' anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) systems and 8,356 missiles. "There was a major difference (of opinion) in the ATGM project cost between the Israeli commercial bid and the much-lower price benchmarking done by the MoD. Over 20 contract negotiation committee meetings have been held till now... the effort now is to close the gap," said the source. The Indian Army, after a series of field trials, has selected the Spike ATGM over the U.S.-made Javelin ATGM system in October 2014, but no contract has been signed up till now. The Indian Army wants to eventually equip all of its 382 infantry battalions and 44 mechanized infantry units with a fourth-generation shoulder-fired “fire and forget” ATGM system. Plans for an initial Indian order of one medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) regiment, composed of 18 firing units, appear to also have been making headway with final contract negotiations concluded. |
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