*NEW DELHI*: In order to boost its anti-tank capability against arch-rivalPakistan, the Government of India is reportedly keen on buying ‘Spike’missiles from Israel.
According to a Bloomberg report, the Government of India (GoI) may soonplace an order for buying the Spike anti-tank guided missiles from Israel.
The report quoted a source as saying that the Indian Army wants to buy theSpike missiles to boost its anti-tank capabilities. The procurement ofSpike missiles will be used as a “stop-gap” measure before the DefenceResearch and Development Organisation (DRDO) could actually come up with anindigenously developed anti-tank missile for the Indian Army.
The DRDO is likely to take three years to develop the indigenous anti-tankguided missile.
The proposal to purchase Israeli Spike missiles is believed to be in theadvanced stage and awaits government’s nod, according to the source, whorevealed this on condition of anonymity.
If the proposal is approved, the order for the purchase of the anti-tankguided missiles could be placed this year to meet the Army’s urgentrequirements, the source said.
The Spike anti-tank guided missiles have been developed by Israeli firmRafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
A Rafael spokesman had too confirmed that a deal to buy Spike missiles isunder consideration in India. However, he refused to divulge more detailsbefore an official announcement.
Interestingly, after a long procurement process, the government hadannulled its plan to buy USD 500-million worth of Spike missiles in January2018.
The decision was taken just ahead of Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu’s visit to New Delhi earlier this year. Netanyahu is believed tohave raised this issue during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Later addressing a press briefing, the Israeli leader had said that thedeal was back on track.
The government annulled the contract after the DRDO announced its plan todevelop an indigenous anti-tank missile to meet the Army requirement ofover 8,000 anti-tank missiles.
The DRDO is likely to deliver the indigenously developed anti-tank missilefor military trials by the end of 2018. Once the trials are successful, themass production of the indigenously developed anti-tank missiles will startby 2021