India, Israel to develop anti-aircraft missiles

NEW DELHI—India will jointly build a surface-to-air missile with its second biggest weapons supplier Israel and hopes for such collaborations with other countries, the defence minister said Wednesday.
“A project has been finalised with (state-run) Israeli Aerospace Industry for the joint development of a futuristic long range surface-to-air missile,” Defence Minister A.K. Antony announced in parliament. He did not give details of the project but others said New Delhi earlier this month had approved the 625-million-dollar joint venture with the Jewish state to build the anti-aircraft missiles for the Indian navy.
The announcement in parliament came a day after India conducted its first test of a nuclear-capable missile from an undersea platform, completing its goal of having air, land and sea ballistic systems.
Antony said India’s ambitious missile development programme launched in 1983 was nearing its completion following the successful trials and mass production of an array of ballistic and guided missiles. “The country’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme has not been abandoned, but it is now near completion,” Antony said.
“India has received a number of offers for the joint collaboration in various kinds of missiles from various countries,” Antony said without giving details. India has co-built a supersonic cruise missile called BrahMos with its primary arms supplier Russia and is trying to export the weapon to other countries. Antony meanwhile said India was giving up a project to locally build a short-range surface-to-air missile called Trishul (Trident).—Agencies