Israel says India to restart talks on missile sales
India is to restart talks with Israel over a cancelled deal to buy anti-tank missiles, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on 17 January.
New Delhi had suspended the $500 million deal to buy the Spike anti-tank missiles from Israel’s state-owned defence contractor Rafael after apparently deciding to manufacture the equipment at home.
But Netanyahu, in India on the first visit by an Israeli premier in 15 years, said his Indian counterpart had agreed to review the 2014 agreement.
‘Following the talks I had with...Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government has informed us that it is putting the Spike deal back on track,’ Netanyahu said in a statement.
‘This is very important and there will be many more deals.’
India’s military chief Bipin Rawat said last week 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 ‘Make in India’ initiative.
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![Greece opts for PULS long-range artillery as demand for capability surges]()
Greece opts for PULS long-range artillery as demand for capability surges
Greece’s selection of PULS makes it the sixth European country to choose the system and follows Sweden’s plan to buy HIMARS and Norway’s selection of Chunmoo artillery systems. The diverse choices for a similar capability highlight demand and a desire for European industrial capacity.
-
![US Army calls for resupply platforms for the Mobile Tactical Cannon]()
US Army calls for resupply platforms for the Mobile Tactical Cannon
The US Army is interested in “innovative, flexible and efficient” capabilities for large-scale combat operations, as well as more agile approaches to improve efficiency and reduce ammunition transfer time.
-
![Leopard MBT: Alpha beast gets a reboot (updated 2026)]()
Leopard MBT: Alpha beast gets a reboot (updated 2026)
Leopard MBTs are German-made main battle tanks that have been in service since the Cold War and have undergone several upgrades to remain competitive in modern warfare. This article traces the history and development of the Leopard 1 and 2 as well as its variants, operational service and future prospects.
-
![Predicted air defence spending boom opens doors to Indian industry]()
Predicted air defence spending boom opens doors to Indian industry
Recent conflicts have created a surge in interceptor demand worldwide while exposing potential supply chain challenges, positioning India as a cost-effective partner and scalable supplier.
-
![March land forces roundup: A new war confronts the old drone problem]()
March land forces roundup: A new war confronts the old drone problem
The attack by the US and Israel on Iran which began at the end of February presented a Ukraine-like scenario of drone-led warfare – in fact the same drone type in the Shahed – and the problem of how to counter them.
