India may revive deal for Israeli missiles
The Indian Army and the government of India are discussing ways to revive a $500 million order to buy Spike anti-tank guided missiles from Rafael, it was announced on 12 January.
India recently called off the deal to procure 8,000 missiles, souring the build up to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's six-day visit to the country starting 14 January.
According to Bipin Rawat, chief of the Indian Army, the deal was scrapped after the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) offered to manufacture similar missiles in line with premier Narendra Modi's pet 'Make in India' initiative.
Bipin Rawat said: ‘DRDO said…why you are going for a missile that we are capable of manufacturing and can give you better results. That is what led to retracting of the request for proposal.’
Rawat said the DRDO missiles were yet to be tested and would not be ready till 2022, which could hit India's operational capabilities in the interim.
Rawat continued: ‘So how do we bridge the gap between now and 2022? It's through the Spike. We can possibly look at a lesser number to meet the gap.’
India has been investing tens of billions of dollars in updating its Soviet-era military hardware to counter long-standing tensions with China and Pakistan.
Israel is a major weapons supplier to India, exporting an average of $1 billion of military equipment each year.
In April 2017, the two countries signed a military deal worth nearly $2 billion which includes the supply of medium-range surface-to-air missiles, launchers and communications technology.
India is aiming to end its status as the world's number one defence importer and to have 70% of hardware manufactured domestically by the turn of the decade.
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![World Defense Show 2026: MARSS displays new Nation Shield air defence C2 system]()
World Defense Show 2026: MARSS displays new Nation Shield air defence C2 system
Nation Shield is the latest iteration of the MARSS C2 system and is designed to provide C2 further forward along with more capable air defence.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Middle East remains focused on US equipment and local industry involvement]()
World Defense Show 2026: Middle East remains focused on US equipment and local industry involvement
Vehicle procurement in the Middle East continues to target big-ticket main battle tanks, with lighter platform purchases also potentially on the horizon including tactical, infantry fighting and armoured personnel carrier vehicles.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: ST Engineering seeks edge in crowded 6x6 market]()
World Defense Show 2026: ST Engineering seeks edge in crowded 6x6 market
Positioned between light 4x4s and heavier 8x8 platforms, the new vehicle, Vantrex, aims to combine high payload capacity with IFV-level firepower in an increasingly competitive segment.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Rostec unveils new infantry fighting vehicle]()
World Defense Show 2026: Rostec unveils new infantry fighting vehicle
The latest infantry fighting vehicle from Rosoboronexport draws on experience from the war in Ukraine, and is designed to be more lethal and more survivable than its predecessors.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: ST Engineering’s Rhino 4x4 set to enter service]()
World Defense Show 2026: ST Engineering’s Rhino 4x4 set to enter service
The Rhino 4x4 protected vehicle is being manufactured for an undisclosed country, likely to be Singapore, while its Agil counter-UAS C2 system is in low-rate production.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Saudi Arabia’s record defence spend highlights uncertain times]()
World Defense Show 2026: Saudi Arabia’s record defence spend highlights uncertain times
Saudi Arabia’s investment in its land forces, notably in the area of air defence as recently as 30 January, is a sign of the challenges the Gulf State faces, particularly the threat from Houthi rebels in Yemen.
