NEW DELHI: With India having announced full diplomatic relations with Israel the stage is set for defence cooperation between the two countries. The defence headquarters has already identified areas where Israeli technology and. expertise can be sought according to informed sources according to “Times of India.

“These include medium and high defence technology both in lethal which Isle achievements. The lethal areas include weapons systems while the nonlethal items are support equipment like radar electronic warfare equipment and a range of engineering items used in border fencing Moreover Israelis are adept at improvisation and up gradation of armaments to suit the terrain and operational doctrine.

Being a state under siege Israelis have developed state-of-the-art equipment used extensively with excellent results by their Para military and army against militant’s activities. They also have expertise in imparting specialized training to commandos and special operating forces (SOP).

The biggest advantage of seeking defence cooperation with Israelis in the fact that its technology is largely indigenous and therefore facilities technology transfer with no end-user problems according to the sources.

Given the resource crunch India is not in a position to buy much military hardware. The answer therefore lies in up gradation of the existing armament and the acquisition of force-multipliers.

India is currently seeking force multipliers from the US. India has already entered into contracts with some east European countries notably Yugoslavia for up gradation as they have the same equipment of Soviet origin For example India had entered into a $50 million contract with Yugoslavia for the retrofitting of the T-55 tank fleet with fire control systems. Another $50 million Contract is being sought by Hugh Corporation of US for thermal imagers needed or the T-72 tanks. Both contracts are unlikely to fructify. While Yugoslavia is caught in a fierce civil war the American deal has yet not been finalized

According to the sources Israel is in the best position to solve: many of India’s defence problems. Israel with its advanced military technology and ingenuity has made excellent amour personnel carriers out of its discarded Centurion tanks which are now employed both for border patrolling and supporting Markova its main battle tank. India still has 165 Centurions which are proposed be sold as scrap. Moreover Israel has mounted its 155mm gun on old Sherman tanks and produced a medium self-propelled gun The Israelis were the first in the world to” up-gun” the T-55 tank with the Birth L/7 gun. India followed suit.

Therefore ballistic computers needed for India’s T-55 and Vijayantatanks can be sought from Israel Even the armor piercing round like the APFSDS (armor piercing fin stabilizing discarding about) can be jointly produced as Pakistan has done with Chinese assistance according to the sources.

The biggest benefit of defence cooperation with Israel can be in the areas of electronic optronics missile technology and riot-control equipment.

For instance the unmanned surveillance aircraft Pioneer employed by the US during the Gulf War is of Israeli origin Though China announced full diplomatic relations with Israel only recently Tel Aviv has been assisting Bejin in the design of the internal navigation system for Chinese missile for at least four years. In this 3 well for RPY (remotely pilot vehicle) being. Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organization and the indigenous missile program Israel contribution can be substantial according to the sources.

Even in regard to exchange 0 doctrinal and tactical ideas it must be noted that there is similarity between the terrain in parts of India and Israel which is committed to a forward defence policy has built linear defenses over a period of time especially in the Got a Heights. This replicates the linear defence on the Indo-Pak border.

Moreover Israel has vast experience fighting in both stony and sand-done waste areas Given a similar desert terrain in India regulate interaction between the two armies will be useful according to the sources.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 14, 1992