Scrapped Spike anti-tank missile deal back on table, says Israeli PM Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said that a $500 million Spike anti-tank guided missile deal with India is once again back on the table, reported Israeli media.

“They (India) are reauthorizing the Spike deal,” Netanyahu told Israeli journalists media as he left for Mumbai after spending his third day with PM Modi in his home state Gujarat.

Earlier, New Delhi had scrapped the $500 million Spike anti-tank missile deal with Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, days before Netanyahu’s India visit.

According to the reports, Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat met his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval to discuss the scrapped deal.

India had cancelled the deal to push PM Modi’s flagship ‘Make-In-India’ program and favour the indigenous development of missiles by DRDO.

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However, reports of the deal’s revival will put a question mark on government’s efforts towards the development of indigenous defence equipment.

Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on a six-day visit to India also brought 130 Israeli business leaders including the officials of Rafael with him.

The Israeli PM was received warmly by the Prime Minister Modi and given Ceremonial reception. On Wednesday, he held a roadshow with his Indian counterpart in Gujarat, the home state of PM Modi.

The ties of India and Israel have improved over the years and Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Jewish state last year.

Both countries trade around $5 billion annually with the majority of deals in arms and diamonds.