(The Statesman-India) Harsha Kakar - Israel has for a long time been an ally of India and a supplier of military hardware. As stated by the late Field Marshal Manekshaw, in the 1971 India-Pakistan War, India employed ammunition for its 130-mm guns that was manufactured in Israel but without Israeli markings. The USSR had been unable to supply India with the quantity of ammunition it had wanted. Thus, it was this ammunition which became the backbone of Indian artillery in the war, though officially India had yet to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. Presently, the entire UAV fleet employed by the military is Israeli-manufactured, with the latest procurement order being for 10 missile-armed drones. The air force also employs Israeli radars mounted on Russian IL76 aircraft as Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS). At the intelligence level, the two nations have been coordinating on common issues concerning terrorism and counter-terrorism.
2016-01-28 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive