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Cancellation of Spike missile deal could hamper India-Israel defense relations
NEW DELHI ― Without explaining its decision, the Indian Ministry of Defence last week scrapped a long-pending, $1 billion anti-tank guided missile deal with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
The ministry on Nov. 21 officially communicated to the Israeli defense company that the man-portable Spike ATGM tender is being retracted under defense procurement procedure DPP-2011. The cancellation could damage bilateral defense ties between India and Israel and potentially lead to the cancellation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India in January.
The MoD also reportedly plans to suspend other crucial defense programs with Israel including a $400 million deal to buy 10 armed Heron TP drones as well as a $1.2 billion deal with Israel Aerospace Industries for two additional Phalcon airborne early warning and control systems for Russian-built IL-76 aircraft.
No MoD official would comment on why the Spike program was terminated, but one source said: “As per ruling National Democratic Alliance government’s directives, all global buy, big-ticket programs will be shelved where transfer of technology is involved and they will be re-initiated under Make in India policy initiative.”
NEW DELHI ― Without explaining its decision, the Indian Ministry of Defence last week scrapped a long-pending, $1 billion anti-tank guided missile deal with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
The ministry on Nov. 21 officially communicated to the Israeli defense company that the man-portable Spike ATGM tender is being retracted under defense procurement procedure DPP-2011. The cancellation could damage bilateral defense ties between India and Israel and potentially lead to the cancellation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India in January.
The MoD also reportedly plans to suspend other crucial defense programs with Israel including a $400 million deal to buy 10 armed Heron TP drones as well as a $1.2 billion deal with Israel Aerospace Industries for two additional Phalcon airborne early warning and control systems for Russian-built IL-76 aircraft.
No MoD official would comment on why the Spike program was terminated, but one source said: “As per ruling National Democratic Alliance government’s directives, all global buy, big-ticket programs will be shelved where transfer of technology is involved and they will be re-initiated under Make in India policy initiative.”