Israel sells air-defense system to India in second major arms deal

Israel announced that it had reached a deal worth $630 million to provide India's navy with missile defense systems, Haaretz reported.

The new contract will see state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) supply LRSAM air and missile defense systems for four Indian naval ships, a statement from the company said.

IAI said the contract will be carried out with India's Bharat Electronics Limited, which will be the project's main contractor.

"The new contract adds to other deals signed in the last decade by IAI with India's defense forces, reinforcing IAI's global leadership position in air and missile defense systems," IAI president and CEO Joseph Weiss said in a statement.

LRSAM is an advanced air and missile defense system, jointly developed by IAI and India's Defense Research and Development Organization.

The latest deal follows a record weapons sale between the two countries last month.

In April, IAI signed arms contracts with India worth nearly $2 billion, including one for $1.6 billion that is the largest defense pact in the government defense industry’s history.

The deal also includes the sale of LRSAM air and missile defense systems to be built in India for its aircraft carriers. India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, approved the purchase in February.

In late 2016, India's foreign minister said the country intended to further strengthen its ties with Israel, stressing the relationship is of "utmost importance to the Indian people."

Source: MENA