India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the $2.5 billion purchase of an advanced Israeli-made anti-aircraft missile system for his country’s army, reported the Israeli newspaper Arutz Sheva today.
The deal to build the missiles, reported to have a range of 50-70 kilometres, was approved during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Read: Israel to equip civilian aircraft with new defence systems
The air-defence system was jointly developed by India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation and Israel Aerospace Industries. It is designed to defend against airborne threats including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, UAVs, cruise missiles and fighter jets.
India and Israel have strengthened ties over the past several years. In 2014, Modi approved the purchase of 262 Israeli-made Barak 1 surface-to-air missiles, in a $144 million deal that will arm India’s 14 battleships over the course of five years.
Also in 2014, India bought 8,356 Spike anti-tank missiles and 321 launchers from Israel in a deal $525 million, apparently rejecting a rival US offer.