India Approves Deal for Israeli Defense Missiles

YERUSHALAYIM

– The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a deal to purchase a surface-to-air missile defense system estimated at a value of $2.5 billion, according to the India Today newspaper.

A senior official confirmed the report, saying that “in a meeting of the cabinet committee on security headed by the Prime Minister, the proposal for procuring the MR-SAM air defense system for the Army was approved.”

Known as the Medium Range Surface to Air Defense Missile (MR-SAM), it will be deployed to help protect Indian airspace from enemy planes, drones and surveillance craft.

Delivery of the missiles was projected to begin within 3 years, and the system is expected to be operational by 2023. The purchase included over 200 missiles, produced by Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Israel-India defense and business ties have been growing steadily. Over the last five years, defense trade has averaged annual sales worth over $1 billion.

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