Israel set to bag another mega Indian defence deal

[thestringshredder]

NEW DELHI: Israel seems all set to bag yet another mega defence deal to equip all the 356 infantry battalions of the Indian Army with third-generation anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). While Russia is far ahead in the lead, Israel is trying to stave off a strong challenge from the US to remain the second largest arms supplier to India.

The Rs 15,000-crore project will involve an initial direct acquisition of the man-portable "tank killers", with a strike range of 2.5-km, followed by transfer of technology (ToT) to defence PSU, Bharat Dynamics, for large-scale indigenous manufacture.

The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC), led by A K Antony, took up the procurement of the fire-and-forget Israeli "Spike" ATGMs for clearance on April 2. But the case was kept "pending" after being referred for "a technology scan" since it was "a single vendor situation" without any competition, said sources.

The DAC can approve acquisition of a state-of-the-art weapon system, aimed to gain a qualitative edge over adversaries, in a single-vendor situation only after "a technology scan" is conducted by HQ IDS (integrated defence staff) in consultation with DRDO. "The scan basically certifies it's not possible to get the weapon system from anywhere else. The DAC will consider the case after the scan," said a source.

The 1.13-million Army is pushing the "critical" project since it has a huge shortfall of 44,000 ATGMs of different types, half its authorised inventory at present. Moreover, both Pakistan and China — the latter with third-generation ATGMs — have zoomed ahead in this capability of stemming enemy armoured attacks.

The "buy global" project for the shoulder-fired ATGMs had begun — after DRDO failed to deliver an indigenous system — with the Israeli Spike being pitted against the American FGM-148 Javelin missiles. But the US could not assure India of providing full ToT to allow indigenous production. Consequently, only the Spike ATGMs underwent extensive field trials conducted by the Army.

The force is keen to begin inducting the new ATGMs soon to ensure each infantry battalion deployed in the plains has eight ATGM launchers (each with 12 missiles), and those in the mountains have at least two, by the end of the 12th Plan (2017). "Even mechanised infantry battalions will get them later," said the source.

At present, the Army is making do with second-generation Milan (2-km range) and Konkurs (4-km) ATGMs, produced by BDL under licence from French and Russian companies, which are wire-guided and do not have fire-and-forget capabilities.

A part of the deficiency will be met by the induction of the long-delayed indigenous third-generation Nag ATGMs, which are vehicle and helicopter-mounted, with a 4-km strike range. The Army has already placed an initial order for 443 Nag missiles and 13 Namicas (Nag missile tracked carriers).

Link - Israel set to bag another mega Indian defence deal - The Times of India

 

[Abingdonboy]

Hmm so it is confirmed the US weren't willing to part with ToT for the Javelins? There's been a lot of contradictory news coming out on this front but it seems the US has now either chosen to withdraw or has been kicked out as it is down to a single tender procurement.

I wonder if this will have an affect on the ATGM selection for the LCH and ALH WSI (for army and AF as they, stupidly, have separate procurements for ATGMs).

 

[neehar]

but is'nt javelins range twice as that of israeli atgm??

 

[Abingdonboy]

but is'nt javelins range twice as that of israeli atgm??

Depends on what version of the Spike the IA gets, the Spike LR has the same range as the Javelin.


But if ToT is not offered to the extent the MoD want then the Javelin is never going to win this particular competition, it's just how it is.

 

[Agnostic_Indian]

isreal is better than US even if American arms are better than isreali

isreal is better than US even if American arms are better than isreali

 

[sudhir007]

any other option ???

 

[SpArK]

any other option ???

FGM-148 Javelin was the other ...US messed the deal.

 

[SirHatesALot]

Spike is similar to javelins any way always knew us won't go for tot.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

but is'nt javelins range twice as that of israeli atgm??

The Javelin also costs humongously more; as much as a Porsche. But the clincher is that the Israelis are giving TOT to manufacture the Spike. That was not on offer with the Javelin.

 

[sudhir007]

FGM-148 Javelin was the other ...US messed the deal.

we will not get the tot from us, that is why Spike come in the picture. i just want to know did any other option.

 

[SRP]

US didn't offer TOT for mass production of javelin missiles in India. That's why India sidelined it. But javelin was the first choice of armed forces for sure.

 

[neehar]

The Javelin also costs humongously more; as much as a Porsche. But the clincher is that the Israelis are giving TOT to manufacture the Spike. That was not on offer with the Javelin.

what are the specs of chinas??atgm??any idea?

 

[Abingdonboy]

we will not get the tot from us, that is why Spike come in the picture. i just want to know did any other option.

Obviously not otherwise India wouldn't be facing a single-vender purchase! Either the other systems weren't up to the mark on a technical front or they weren't offering the levels of ToT India wanted.

The Javelin also costs humongously more; as much as a Porsche. But the clincher is that the Israelis are giving TOT to manufacture the Spike. That was not on offer with the Javelin.

The Spike doesn't cost much less, a Javelin missile may cost (excluding the actual launcher) $80,000 USD apiece, the Spike (depending on the version) will cost $50-70,000 USD apiece. Whatever way you cut it- you get what you pay for!

 

[selvan33]

hmmm good news. by the way which version IA is going to buy.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

what are the specs of chinas??atgm??any idea?

Read up on "Bakhtar Shikan". Its a re-badged Chinese ATGM.