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India, Israel Propose Joint Electronic Warfare Venture
By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI, NEW DELHIIndia and Israel want to set up a joint venture to develop advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems for their air forces fighter aircraft. The proposed joint venture, the creation of which would cost around $100 million, is expected to get the go-ahead shortly with a signed deal between Indias Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), Bangalore, and the Elisra Group, Bene Beraq, Israel. Seventy percent of the venture will be funded by DARE, which is part of the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation, with Elisra paying the remaining 30 percent. A senior DARE scientist said the proposed venture likely will get off the ground in the next three to six months at DARE facilities in Bangalore. Elisra will develop approach warning systems, radar jamming pods and other systems, while DARE will develop cooling systems, electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic susceptibility systems, as well as system integration in the aircraft. The program is to be fully operational in three years The scientist said this venture will see an advanced EW system called MAYAVI developed for Indias Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters that Israel plans to buy from the United States. The EW system will feature advanced radar warning, radar jamming, and electronic combat and self-protection systems. It also will have an Integrated Defensive Electronic Radio Frequency Countermeasures system to help protect the LCA against radar-guided missiles. Its Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures will protect aircraft against heat-seeking missiles, and be paired with the Common Missile Warning System. We are collaborating with Indian agencies for a number of defense programs, but, as per company policy, we do not discuss specific programs, an Elisra executive here said. The executive added that DARE was selected as a partner after trying several other defense partners in the world. A senior Indian Defence Ministry official said India wants to forge alliances with Israeli companies to develop a variety of high-end defense technologies so that the Indian Defence Forces do not have to depend on the West for critical technologies. Elisra has helped DARE in the past to develop an EW system called Tempest for the MiG-21 bis fighter upgrade program. EW systems from Elisra also are being supplied for the licensed production in India of 140 Sukhoi Su-31 MKI aircraft at Hindustan Aeronautics, Bangalore. The Defence Ministry official said India has procured an unspecified number of EW suites from Israel for LCA prototypes, but declined to elaborate. Posted by: john 2006-07-24 |
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