India to seal deal for Spike missiles with Israeli govt

NEW DELHI: India will purchase Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missile (AT GM) from Israel through the so-called government to government (G to G) route because the military wants the proven weapon and the Defence Research and Development Organisation has no objections to the deal as long as it does not involve transfer of technology (TOT).

Last month after much deliberations, the defence ministry with drew the Request for Proposals (RFP) for 8,000 Israeli Spike missiles, a deal worth $500 million, after DRDO developed the indigenous Nag AT GM with seeker software and said it was against any TOT from Rafael Advanced Systems, the Israeli company that makes the Spike missile.

While the Israelis were upset as the withdrawal of RFP came almost on the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to New Delhi on January 14, South Block officials said they have no objections to the Indian Army purchasing the long range (not line of sight) ATGM from Israel through the G to G route. This decision was discussed at the highest level, they added, especially because Rafael Systems, Bharat Dynamics Limited and Kalyani Strategic Systems have setup a factory to manufacture the AT G Min Hyderabad under the“Make in India” route.

Spike is a battle proven missile which has longer range and light in weight when compared to N ag. The Nag missile has performed well in trials and has range of 500 metres to four kilometres. Defence ministry officials were at pains to emphasis et hat India has deep defence ties with Israel and has recently approved an order to purchase torpedoes for its new submarines from that country.