Missile test (archive photo)
Photo: AP
India seeks Israeli help for surveillance system
Israeli expertise being sought for completion of system set to give India capability to detect targets in space
Hit by heavy time over-runs and technical hitches in the production of a key surveillance system designed to give early warning on incoming missiles, India has sought Israeli expertise.
Launched three years ago, Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) surveillance project christened 'Divya Drishti' was to become operational this year, but is running heavily behind schedule and now Israeli expertise is being sought for its completion.
Billed to cost Rs 570 crores, the ground-based over- horizon surveillance system will give the country capability to detect targets in space and close to ground in two angles almost 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) away and in another angle almost 450 kilometers (280 miles) away.
Elbit system of Israel has now joined forces with the DRDO's Hyderabad-based Defense Electronics Research Laboratory (DRDL), Electronic Corporation of India and Tata Power Company Limited to develop the futuristic system.
Another Israeli firm IAI has also been made a co-collaborator in the DRDO's revived prestigious project to develop an indigenous mini airborne early warning and control system.
IAI Elta system is supplying ground based and airborne active phased array radars for the system aimed at undertaking detection of ballistic and cruise missiles.
Reprinted by permission of Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute
