India aims to acquire Israel Iron Dome system to counter Pakistan

New Delhi: Indian defence think tanks intend to make India equipped with technology similar to Israel’s Iron Dome in order to counter conventional artillery and short range missile attacks from Pakistan.

For this purpose, Indian planners are keeping a close eye on the performance of Israel’s Iron Dome, which is probably the only deterrent to the rocket attacks.

The Indian military establishment aims to acquire this defence system because of the fact that India is bordered by unfriendly neighbours, a report said.

According to a report, the Indian military officials fear Pakistani groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) who could also acquire similar capability like Hamas, which would threaten large groups of Indian population.

The report said that one of the key reasons why few Indian defence planners look for it is the possibility of another conflict with Pakistan, where a defence system like the Iron Dome might be helpful to deter even conventional artillery attacks.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is engaged in talks with their Israeli counterparts for a probable joint development of Iron Dome for India, report stated quoting sources.

“The Israeli team comes and works in our laboratories. Our team goes and works in their laboratories and industries. There is a learning that is taking place which was not there when we buy things and integrate with existing products… In directed energy weapons — we are focusing on fibre laser, high powered micro-waves, etc. We have also started discussions with Iron Dome for co-development (in India),” Dr W Selvamurthy, Chief Controller looking after international cooperation, told Indian newspaper recently.

Iron Dome, produced by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, is considered as the most effective system against short-range missiles such as Fajr V rockets.

The system has been active since 2011 and is believed to have the potency to shoot down rockets and artillery shells with ranges of up to 70 km.

The Newstribe