India’s Ministry of Defense to acquire Israel produced anti-missile defense system

The Indian Navy is replenishing its inventory by purchasing an additional 260 Barak-1 missiles for from the Israeli firm, Rafael, for  $143 million.

By Globes

 

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. will provide the Indian Navy with hundreds of Barak-1 missiles over the next 18 months in a deal worth $143 million. India’s Ministry of Defense approved the procurement in recent days in part because naval commanders have warned of a grave shortage of such missiles in the Indian Navy’s inventory. The Barak-1 is an anti-missile defense system, and the Indian Navy is reportedly down to its last 150 such missiles.

Delhi Class Guided Missile Destroyers armed with Rafael's  Barak-1 missiles

Delhi Class Guided Missile Destroyers armed with Rafael’s Barak-1 missiles – Screenshot

The Indian government has decided to procure more than 260 Barak-1 missiles, which are manufactured by Rafael in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) and its Elta Industries division. IAI produces the command and control systems for the missile while Elta has developed the radar.

There was a long period of discussions before the Indian government made its final decision about procuring the missiles due to inquiries into a bribery scandal involving defense manufacturers from other countries. Rafael and IAI were eventually cleared of any wrongdoing and the Barak-1 missile deal was given the go-ahead.

The Barak-1 missile was developed in the 1990s and with a range of 9-10 kilometers serves as the main defense missile for the Israel Navy.

India is also a major partner of Israeli defense manufacturers in plans to develop a more advanced version of the Barak-1 missile the Barak-8. The agreement to develop the Barak-8 was signed four years ago and when development is complete, the Indian Navy will be equipped with hundreds of these innovative missiles in a deal worth $1.4 billion.

 

View original Globes [online], Israel business news publication at: http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-rafael-agrees-indian-missile-deal-1000975034