Israeli Defense Minister Ya’alon To Visit India For The First Time

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon is on his first visit to India after assuming office since bilateral relations were established in 1991.

Ya’alon will be meet senior Indian counterparts and will visit Aero India exhibition starting February 18.

Indian Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) are jointly developing the Barak 8 air and missile defense system and will be used by both Israeli Navy and Indian Defense Forces.

The Barak 8 missile defense system has had a successful trail in October last year after it shot down a target that simulated an incoming hostile aircraft.

The missile defense system is currently being installed on Israeli Naval ships to protect them against various threats including the Yakhont surface-to-sea guided missiles in the possession of Hezbollah.

“The current test validated all components of the weapon system to the satisfaction of the customer representatives,” IAI was reported as saying by the Jerusalem post.

India recently unblocked $2.5 billion Barak missile deal first signed in 2007 after it had been put on hold over concerns of irregularity.