September 5, 2003	Friday	Rajab 7, 1424

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NEW DELHI/JERUSALEM, Sept 4: India aims to create strategic imbalance in South Asia as it races to close a deal with Israel worth more than $1 billion for an advanced airborne early warning radar system.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is due in India on Sunday — first visit by an Israeli leader in 11 years — and officials say the two sides could sign the contract for the sale of three Phalcon radar systems during the trip.

“There is every possibility of a signing,” an Indian defence ministry official told Reuters.

The Israeli radars mounted on a Russian aircraft would bring large parts of Pakistani airspace under Indian surveillance.

Pakistan, which does not have such an advanced “eyes and ears” system, criticised Israel’s key ally and sponsor the United States for approving the sale.

Indian military experts say the entry of the Phalcon, similar to the US Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), on the subcontinent will force Islamabad to look for an equally advanced surveillance gear.

The Phalcon’s radar system, says Robert Hewson, editor of Jane’s Air Launched Weapons, “... is not ... unique ... but it is one that few nations possess and gives a huge war-fighting advantage to any air force that has it.”

“The Phalcon would increase India’s airpower advantage over an opponent such as Pakistan...by a very considerable margin.”

India, with the world’s fourth largest armed forces, already enjoys a roughly two to one advantage over its much smaller neighbour in ground and air forces.

Indian analysts say the surveillance systems could at some point tempt the military to launch air strikes against militants fighting Indian rule in the disputed Kashmir without fear of retaliation from Pakistan.

New Delhi has resisted the use of air power in Kashmir because it could trigger retaliation.

“But with much of its air space under surveillance, you can pretty much control the skies,” said retired admiral Raja Menon.

India also wants to buy anti-ballistic Arrow missiles from Israel but this has not yet been cleared by Washington.

New Delhi believes the $2.5 billion Arrow, the world’s only operational anti-ballistic missile system, will help it face down the nuclear threat from Pakistan.

“I guess this will further increase the imbalance of power in South Asia,” said Yiftah S. Shapir, an analyst at Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University.

“I expect the US will block such a sale, but we might be surprised again.”—Reuters