India rejects Israel joint UAV development offer - report

[RPK]

India rejects Israel joint UAV development offer - report - Globes


"Defense News" reports that India has rejected an Israeli proposal to jointly develop a new version of the Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), made by Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1). The rejection is an unusual event in Indian-Israeli defense relations. Israeli sources estimate the potential value of the project at several hundred million dollars.
A well-informed Israeli source told "Globes" in response that marketing efforts with foreign countries take time and effort, and that the joint project would probably go ahead, despite the initial rejection. He attributed the rejection to an internal struggle among India's defense officials between those who want to stimulate domestic defense industries, and those who want to play it safe by relying on Israel's experience in UAV development.
"Israel is making a constant marketing effort in India. There is constant urgency to sell the Heron," said the source. "Naturally, there are different perspectives in India about the need for such a project. Such deals are closed overnight. IAI is prepared to invest more time and hopes for success."
"Defense News" quotes a source as saying that the rejection of the joint UAV project reflects new thinking in India's Ministry of Defense to focus on current DRDO projects instead of spending money on new ones. India has been trying for a decade to develop its own advanced UAVs to no avail.
India is one of the biggest markets for the Heron; Israel has sold India scores of the UAV, worth almost $1 billion, in several deals. The Indian Navy, Indian Army, and special forces all operate versions of the Heron. "Defense News" says that India currently operates 60 Herons and that it needs more.
"Defense News" says that IAI and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) submitted the proposal to jointly develop the Heron, but that Ministry of Defense officials said that DRDO should focus on the joint Israeli-Indian mid-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) program, a land version of Israel's Barak naval defense missile. The magazine says that the missile problem is behind schedule and has technical problems, including the failure of a prototype in December.
According to "Defense News", the joint missile program began in 2009, and is intended for use by both India and Israel's militaries. IAI is the chief Israeli contractor. The DRDO signed the contract with Israel after an Indian tender for the purchase of a mid-range SAM that would use Indian technology failed. The Indian Air Force wants 18 MRSAM batteries at an estimated cost of $1.2 billion.

 

[Lions Of Punjab]

India has rejected an Israeli proposal to jointly develop a new versio

According to Israeli News portal Globes [online] , India has recently rejected Israeli proposal to jointly develop a new version of the Heron UAV . The Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian air force and special forces all operate versions of the Heron UAV. Indian forces currently operates more than 60 Heron UAV and purchase of more Heron UAV are planned for Indian Navy . Rejection of israeli proposal of the joint UAV project reflects new thinking in India's Ministry of Defense to focus on current DRDO projects and spend money on local developments .

DRDO currently is working on Two unarmed UAV project , one been Rustom -1 which will be a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) class UAV which will exceed performance of IAI Built Searcher II UAV which Indian armed forces also operate and Second project been Rustom-2 which will be high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) class UAV , and plans are there to also develop armed variant of Rustom-2 .

Rustom-1 UAV has already carried out first phase of test flights successfully and developers are working on Integration of payload in UAV and soon will be starting second phase of UAV test flights , while first flight of Rustom -1 should take by end of this year or early next year and DRDO is working on the first prototype which should be ready soon .

Reports also hints that project might have been rejected by Ministry of Defence rather than DRDO , who were keen in such joint venture . Indian navy is also looking for purchase of Maritime HALE UAV from foreign vendors for coastal and high sea surveillance, Israeli company Elbit Systems is offering Hermes 900 MP Maritime HALE UAV for Indian Naval requirements . Israeli sources have told new portal that IAI is looking to re-engage with Indian Partners and IAI is prepared to invest more time and hopes for success.

Source :- Idrw.org

 

[sob]

Re: India has rejected an Israeli proposal to jointly develop a new ve

Let us see what happens down the line. We haven't heard the last word on this.

 

[SajeevJino]

Any concrete reason for the Rejection ..please Don't say Rustom 1 and 2 are in hands of DRDO

 

[Snuggy321]

Idiots... Israel has some of the best drone makers in the world and a hell lot of experience.... GL DRDO.

 

[drkrn]

@snuggy the govt rejected heron type drones development.not others

 

[ladder]

The rejection is an unusual event in Indian-Israeli defense relations.

A well-informed Israeli source told "Globes" in response that marketing efforts with foreign countries take time and effort, and that the joint project would probably go ahead, despite the initial rejection.

Both statements have merit in them.

I think this rejection is due to the bad experience we had due to Barak-8 JV.
Israel devoted more manpower and resources towards iron dome and David sling neglecting barak-8 and it got delayed and thus our ships kept on sitting in docks waiting for the same.

It proved Israel and we had different priorities.

Even ACM. N.A.K. Browne had to go to Israel to sort things out.

By rejecting the JV India is showing her displeasure.

This JV would go through at a latter date if our forces needs them.