NEW DELHI: The highly secretive Israeli military complex, operating in mysterious ways, has successfully managed to become India’s second largest weapons provider after Russia, a decade after the two nations established formal diplomatic ties.

Israel’s Soltam is one of three howitzer manufacturers alongside South Africa’s Denel and Bofors of Sweden, which are competing in trials in the western Pokhran desert to sell India their weapon systems in a contract worth 100 to 120 billion rupees ($2.08 to $1.5 billion).

This week, the United States said it is considering an Israeli request to sell India the hi-tech Arrow missile defence system, against the backdrop of heightened tensions in South Asia.

India has been negotiating with Israel for the Arrow weapons system as a defence against short and medium range ballistic missiles, but is bound to first seek US approval as the technology was developed in cooperation with Washington.

Defence officials in New Delhi recently confirmed acquisition of two Israeli Green Pine radars that operate in tandem with the Arrow system. India’s former defence secretary Yogendra Narain indicated that the radar, supplemented by aerostat balloons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs ) that are also being acquired from Israel, could meet India’s immediate needs against a Pakistani missile assault.

But Narain was reticent over progress in India’s acquiring the Israeli Phalcon airborne early warning system, which can track up to 60 targets over an 800 km radius, after its sale was cleared by the United States earlier this year in view of China’s reservations about it.

But Indian defence officials envisage problems with China over the Phalcon as Israel had contracted to sell the AEW & C system to Beijing, but backed out following US opposition in July 2000 that was based on concern it would give China the military edge over Taiwan and the United States in the event of a conflict.

India’s Secretary Defence Production Subir Datta — now defence secretary — signed the military industrial accord last year for the transfer to India of Israeli military technology worth around $2 billion.

The agreement signed involves the transfer by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) of technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to upgrade 125 MiG 21 ‘bis’ (NATO reporting name: Fishbed) ground attack aircraft and to jointly develop IAI/Rafael Barak naval air-defence and anti-missiles and to double their range to 10 kms.

Israel has also provided avionics and weapon systems for 40 Russian Su 30MkI multi-role fighters India bought in the mid-1990s.

The Indian Navy is arming its three locally designed ‘Delhi’ class destroyers and INS Viraat, its lone aircraft carrier, with an unspecified number of Barak missiles, besides acquiring three Super Dvora MK II fast attack craft for around $4.3 million.

Several Israeli firms also restructured Viraat’s electronic control systems five years ago for an undisclosed amount. The Navy also wants one more Super Dvora MK II.

Likewise, Israeli defence companies, aided by officials of SIBAT, the Foreign Defence Assistance and Defence Export Organization, have appointed scores of agents in India to sell their wares.

“Negotiations with Israeli defence manufacturers at some point involve undercover SIBAT officials posted at the Israeli embassy in Delhi,” one such agent declared.

Israel Military Industries recently opened an unobtrusive office in an upmarket area in south Delhi to hawk its varied wares. Other Israeli firms are finalizing deals for protective body armour and mine resistant vehicles for deployment across held Kashmir.

The Hindu nationalist-led federal coalition considers Israel its “natural ally” that is “wholly dependable” in times of conflict.” Russia delivers the hardware — tanks, aircraft and ships — and Israel provides the weapons systems, the radar, the electronic control systems and other high-tech add-ons,” a military official said.

Recent Israeli sales to India include Searcher unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s), hand held thermal imaging systems for the infantry and thermal imagers for the artillery for $52 million.

Soltam, which upgraded Indian field guns in 2000, will also provide India’s Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) kits to retrofit another 220-250 M 46 guns to equip around 25 artillery regiments. Israel supplied rounds and ammunition during the 1999 Kargil conflict.

Imminent Israeli purchases include costly Searcher II UAVs capable of operating above 15,000 feet, VHF radios and thermal imagers for the fire control systems involved in upgrading around 600 Russian T 72 main battle tanks.

Additional Israeli defence deals under negotiation include upgrading Jaguar fighters and involvement with electronic systems aboard the Admiral Gorshkov, the 44,500 ton Soviet aircraft carrier the navy plans to acquire for the cost of its refit.

India and Israel also have a ministerial commission for exchanging intelligence on terrorism. —Dawn/The InterPress News Service.