LRSAM test fired from the INS Kolkata. (Livefist/Twitter)Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has bagged an additional $777 million contract to supply Long Range Surface To Air Missile (LRSAM) air and missile defence systems to seven ships in the Indian navy, Reuters has reported. The contract follows an earlier $630 million deal last year for the LRSAM system, a part of the Barak 8 family.
IAI is owned by the Israel government and the company will be working along with the main contractor, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The move signals further strengthening of Indo-Israel defence ties as India moves to diversify its supplier base cutting the overwhelming reliance on Russia.
“IAI’s partnership with India dates many years back and has culminated in joint system development and production. India is a major market for IAI and we plan to reinforce our positioning in India, also in view of increasing competition,” IAI Chief Executive Officer Nimrod Sheffer told Reuters.
The Barak 8 missile was developed Jointly by IAI, Israel’s Defence Ministry, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the navies of both countries and Israel’s Rafael. Local industries of India and Israel have also played a role in its development. IAI had struck a deal worth $2 billion to supply India’s army and navy with missile defence systems last year.
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