Israel to explore making defence products in India

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Israel is ready to explore making some defence products in India, its Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Wednesday, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' call to global aerospace firms to manufacture defence equipment in the country.

"We welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of 'Make in India.' We will examine with the Indian government the concept of Make in India to produce some products in India," Ya'alon told reporters after inaugurating his country's pavilion at the Aero India trade expo at the Yelahanka base of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the city's outskirts.

Organised by the Israel's defence cooperation authority Sibat, the pavilion showcases air defence systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite models, missiles, aircraft self-protection systems, electronic warfare systems, world's smallest camera drones, software's to automatically detect objects along with unique technological solutions developed by small and Israeli startups.

"I am proud to be the first Israeli defence minister to visit India. We see the occasion as a sign of the relations between the two countries deepening not only in defence, but also in many sectors," Ya'alon told the media.

Noting that Israel had a strong defence industry, he said his country was ready to share its defence capabilities with India.

On the cooperation between the two countries, Ya'alon said his country was willing to work in joint development and production to address the needs of India.

"We are open for every option to work with our Indian counterparts," he added.

The pavilion is one of the largest set up by Israeli defence ministry in recent years, reflecting the importance Israel country attaches to its partnership with India and creates the platform to leverage the edge of the Israeli defence industry.

Ya'alon also met his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar on the margins of the 10th edition of the air show and discussed India-Israel cooperation in the defence sector.