NEW DELHI, Nov 12: India is firming up a multi-million dollar deal to buy unmanned aircraft and other intelligence-gathering equipment from Israel. According to sources here , India will purchase 50 Heron / Eagle unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as well as a ground station, communications equipment and intelligence-gathering devices that are part of the UAV system. The $230 million agreement is expected to be signed soon.

India's defence ministry officials refused to comment on the deal which comes two months after India's air force chief visited Israel and toured Israel Aircraft Industries, which makes the UAVs, and other defence companies.

Israel has emerged as a leading arms supplier to India, and ties between the two countries have warned considerably over the past five years. In March, Israel agreed to sell three Phalcon airborne early warning systems to India. The $1.1 billion deal was Israel's biggest one-time sale of military hardware ever. -APP