INDIAN AIR FORCE & AEROSPACE INDUSTRY OF ISRAEL

Indian Air Force's (IAF) thriving partnership with the Aerospace Industry of Israel is transforming the future of Aerospace Security of India

- D.K. PANDEY

THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY OF ISRAEL HAS SUCCESSFULLY carved out its niche in high-technology, specialised inventories and skills and counter-terrorism management. This has become the basis of a mutually beneficial relationship wherein Israel has emerged as a major defence supplier for India, with the latter having emerged as the largest market for Israel’s arms exports. Indian Air Force, as also the Indian Armed Forces, and the Aerospace Industry of Israel have developed a versatile defence and security partnership, with a growing focus on joint development and production going forward.

For India, the credibility of Israel as a reliable defence partner was reinforced during the Kargil War of 1999 when it supplied the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ‘Searcher’ and surveillance systems for the Jaguar and Mirage squadrons. Israel was also instrumental in integrating the Phalcon Radar on the IL-76 platform, giving India its first Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) platform. Following this, Israel assisted in upgrading India’s ageing MiG fighters and supplying small arms. India sought material and technical support in specialised avionics, airborne radars, electronic warfare equipment, Surface-to-air Missiles (SAMs), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Gradually, this cooperation expanded to various other areas such as avionics, missiles and anti-missiles, radars and surveillance.