India is anxiously awaiting Israel's delivery of the Phalcon Air Early Warning and Control System. Israel's Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, concluding a state visit to India, declared yesterday that delivery would take place very soon. He held top-level meetings with Indian leaders including India's President, Prime Minister and Defense Minister.
"Finally we have succeeded in implementing the deal, and we expect to make delivery shortly," Shalom told reporters. Israel is to supply the Phalcon Awacs radars, which will be mounted on the Russian IL-76 platform and will greatly enhance the surveillance capability of the Indian Air Force against incoming surface-to-surface missiles. It will also provide the means to strike deep into enemy territory.
Shalom noted that there had been some problems with the Americans until recently, "but we now have had the opportunity to finalize the transaction." A similar deal a few years ago between Israel and China was canceled after the U.S. forced Israel to back out. The current deal between Israel and India is worth $1.1 billion.
"Finally we have succeeded in implementing the deal, and we expect to make delivery shortly," Shalom told reporters. Israel is to supply the Phalcon Awacs radars, which will be mounted on the Russian IL-76 platform and will greatly enhance the surveillance capability of the Indian Air Force against incoming surface-to-surface missiles. It will also provide the means to strike deep into enemy territory.
Shalom noted that there had been some problems with the Americans until recently, "but we now have had the opportunity to finalize the transaction." A similar deal a few years ago between Israel and China was canceled after the U.S. forced Israel to back out. The current deal between Israel and India is worth $1.1 billion.