Israel approves $1.1 billion Phalcon sale to India

menareport.com ^

[chance33_98]

Israel approves $1.1 billion Phalcon sale to India

The Israeli security cabinet approved on Sunday the sale of three advanced Phalcon spy planes to India. The transaction is valued at $1.1 billion, Israel Radio reported.

According to local media, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon finalized the details of the purchase agreement during a visit to India in September. Sharon’s four-day stay was the first ever visit by an Israeli premier to the country since both states established diplomatic relations in 1992.

India and Israel were close to sealing the deal last year, as part of a defense accord between the two countries, when Washington stepped in. Voicing opposition to the transaction, the Bush administration informed Israeli officials that it would withhold a one-billion-dollar special military grant for the Jewish state should the Phalcon deal with India materialize. New Delhi papers linked American opposition to the Indian stand on the Iraq war.

However, The Times of India reported in January that the White House had changed its stance on the matter as US officials told their Indian counterparts that they no longer opposed the transaction.

Israel and India have long established tight cooperation between their defense industries. According to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Jewish state is reported to have already furnished India with the Greenpine radar and a Harpy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Ranked as an arms export heavyweight, Israel is forecasted to remain one of the world’s top five defense exporters for 2003. The state was ranked third for 2002 by Defense News in June. The United States and Russia held the top two positions. — (menareport.com)

[CasearianDaoist]

NOw India has better AWACS than we do.

[bayourod]

We have better missiles that can shoot down their better AWACS than they do.

[CasearianDaoist]

For the time being. Wait until the EU rolls out their equivalent to the ERAAM in a few years. I understand Israel needs all the nin-muslim regional allies that it can get, still I hope that there is some real behind the scenes realignment happening with India. This sets a dangerous precedent. What next, sell them to China?

When you match these planes with the supersonifc cruise missiles that India and Russia are jointly developing you have a potent threat to our carrier groups.

[milestogo]

This sets a dangerous precedent. What next, sell them to China?

Israel scraps China radar deal

Wednesday, 12 July, 2000

Israel has cancelled a $250m contract to sell an airborne early-warning radar system to China.

[milestogo]

US approves Israeli Phalcon sale to India

Jerusalem: The United States has given the green signal to Israel for the sale of Phalcon airborne radar systems worth one billion dollars to Indian Airforce without any conditions or limitations, a media report said today.

[Cronos]

Yeah, like we're really going to war with India. I'd prefer it if they have good AWACs to help us out when we do square off against the Chicoms or the slamofascists.

[Cronos]

Again, get real. The cold war is over, Russia is not the enemy. Russia is potentially a very good ally. We've got all the reasons in the world to be allies with Russia and India against the slamofascsists and chicoms.