By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI, NEW DELHI
Israel has begun developing a missile for India that will have a range of up to 300 kilometers.
Indian Army officials here on Feb. 9 confirmed that the service’s specifications for two long-range artillery (LORA) missiles were submitted to scientists at Lod-based Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). They said the Army needs 36 India-specific LORA systems.
The India-specific missiles would represent an extended-range version of the LORA, initially developed by IAI. Current versions of the solid-fuel missile now in testing carry a 570-kilogram warhead less than 200 kilometers.
Israeli sources say Indian specifications for a longer-range version would require significant reductions in warhead size to comply with the physical properties of the missile itself, as well as international restrictions governing the transfer or sale of missiles capable of delivering a 500-kilogram payload more than 300 kilometers.
“I do not rule out the possibility of sale and even co-production of [the LORA] missile,†Moshe Keret, IAI’s president and chief executive, said Feb. 7 during the Defexpo 2004 trade show here. “This program is not only important for us, it is a crucial element of IAI’s relationship with India.â€
Army artillery officials here said Feb. 9 that a high-level team from the Artillery Directorate went to Israel in November to witness the live-fire demonstration of the LORA missile system.The Army also will fund the development of the India-specific prototype, the Army officials said. They would not disclose financial details.
The Army will conduct up to 10 trials of the solid-fueled LORA missiles before placing a bulk order with IAI, the Artillery Directorate officials said. The Army last year began its evaluation of the existing LORA missile system and the Russian Iskander-E missile system. Pursuit of the Iskander has been abandoned by the Army in favor of the LORA.
The Army currently has the indigenous Prithvi missile in its inventory. It has a range of up to 150 kilometers and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The Army officials confirmed that the India-specific LORA also would have that capability.
The Army officials noted that the Prithvi missile is cumbersome to transport because of its liquid fuel, and that they preferred to deploy a solid-fueled missile. This is also to defend against solid-fueled missiles equipping forces in Pakistan.
The Army officials said the Defence Ministry will follow service recommendations to delay procuring the Smerch multibarrel rocket launch system due to concerns with support from Russia during the system’s life cycle.
Barbara Opall-Rome contributed to this report from Tel Aviv
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Israel has begun developing a missile for India that will have a range of up to 300 kilometers.
Indian Army officials here on Feb. 9 confirmed that the service’s specifications for two long-range artillery (LORA) missiles were submitted to scientists at Lod-based Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). They said the Army needs 36 India-specific LORA systems.
The India-specific missiles would represent an extended-range version of the LORA, initially developed by IAI. Current versions of the solid-fuel missile now in testing carry a 570-kilogram warhead less than 200 kilometers.
Israeli sources say Indian specifications for a longer-range version would require significant reductions in warhead size to comply with the physical properties of the missile itself, as well as international restrictions governing the transfer or sale of missiles capable of delivering a 500-kilogram payload more than 300 kilometers.
“I do not rule out the possibility of sale and even co-production of [the LORA] missile,†Moshe Keret, IAI’s president and chief executive, said Feb. 7 during the Defexpo 2004 trade show here. “This program is not only important for us, it is a crucial element of IAI’s relationship with India.â€
Army artillery officials here said Feb. 9 that a high-level team from the Artillery Directorate went to Israel in November to witness the live-fire demonstration of the LORA missile system.The Army also will fund the development of the India-specific prototype, the Army officials said. They would not disclose financial details.
The Army will conduct up to 10 trials of the solid-fueled LORA missiles before placing a bulk order with IAI, the Artillery Directorate officials said. The Army last year began its evaluation of the existing LORA missile system and the Russian Iskander-E missile system. Pursuit of the Iskander has been abandoned by the Army in favor of the LORA.
The Army currently has the indigenous Prithvi missile in its inventory. It has a range of up to 150 kilometers and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The Army officials confirmed that the India-specific LORA also would have that capability.
The Army officials noted that the Prithvi missile is cumbersome to transport because of its liquid fuel, and that they preferred to deploy a solid-fueled missile. This is also to defend against solid-fueled missiles equipping forces in Pakistan.
The Army officials said the Defence Ministry will follow service recommendations to delay procuring the Smerch multibarrel rocket launch system due to concerns with support from Russia during the system’s life cycle.
Barbara Opall-Rome contributed to this report from Tel Aviv
link
