Barak Missile Project to Help Intensify India-Israel Defence Tech Partnership

India and Israel look to expanding technology partnership in defence products following the lead provided by the ship-launched Barak missile which the two countries are developing together.

Israeli Navy Chief Vice-Admiral Ram Rutberg today held talks with top Indian defence officials in the Indian capital as the two countries look at deepening bilateral defence ties.

Rutberg met his Indian counterpart Admiral RK Dhowan and later called on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Defence Secretary G. Mohan Kumar.

The visit comes at a time when the long-range surface-to-air missile Barak-8 is undergoing trials in Israel. The project is being carried out by India and Israel jointly.

“We are looking forward to the trials to be completed successfully so that the missile is available for both Indian and Israeli navies,” Dhowan told reporters this morning.

Rutberg said, “The roadmap ahead is joint collaboration in developing defence technology. Together we can achieve much more than doing it alone.”

Israel has been an important defence partner for India. From radars to missiles, India has been depending on Israel as it undertakes a modernisation drive of the armed forces. Unlike other countries, Israel has been liberal with technology transfer to Indian private and government owned companies, a point that has been well-appreciated in New Delhi.