The National Interest:
Israel is on the verge of selling India new anti-tank missiles. The news was reported by both Indian and Israeli media outlets. “India is on the verge of finalizing a $500 million deal with Israel for the government-to-government purchase of around 4,500 Spike anti-tank guided missiles,” The Hindustan Times reported, citing India and Israel officials.
The deal could be finalized as early as Israel defense official Udi Adam’s trip to New Delhi on July 2-3. The deal has been a long time in the making, but appeared unlikely to take place as late as the early this year.
The Israeli defense firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. first agreed to sell 8,000 Spike anti-tank missiles to India in 2014. Under the original deal, 3,000 of the missiles would be manufactured in India as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” initiative.
