BENGALURU // Israel’s defence minister arrived in India on Wednesday to help sell his country’s arms industry to the world’s largest defence importer and promote deepening military ties between the two countries.
India and Israel, which only established full diplomatic ties in 1992, are developing an increasingly close commercial and political relationship, particularly since Indian prime minister Narendra Modi was elected last May.
New Delhi is now the largest buyer of Israeli military equipment, while Israel is India’s largest customer after Russia.
In the first public visit to India by an Israeli defence minister, Moshe Ya’alon landed at the biennial Aero India airshow in Bengaluru – India’s biggest showcase of military equipment.
He said upon arrival that India was vital to his country’s defence industry.
“We are open to more or less [selling] anything. We believe that we have the better product,” he said at the Israeli pavillion, where executives from the country’s largest defence firms including Elbit Systems and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems are showcasing their latest weaponry.
Israel wants to boost its trade in Asia to diversify export markets in response to potential trade sanctions in Europe, while India is keen to buy cutting-edge Israeli arms and access new technology to help upgrade its ill-equipped armed forces.
India is among Israel’s biggest customers for unarmed drones, and analysts say Tel Aviv is keen to use its headstart over rival makers such as the United States to increase sales to Delhi.
Under Mr Modi, Israel and India have pushed ahead with the joint development of an aerial defence system, which passed its first trial simulating combat conditions in November.
In October, India opted to buy Rafael’s Spike anti-tank guided missile in a deal worth $525 million, choosing the Israeli product over a US offer of its Javelin missiles.
Mr Modi has sought to tighten security ties with the US and Israel as he seeks to overhaul a largely Soviet-era arsenal and turn India into a global manufacturing hub.
At the same time, India has reduced its reliance on top weapons supplier Russia.
“India has always been trying to get rid of a dependency on one supplier,” said Siemon Wezeman, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. “The Russians are not terribly good at transferring technology.”
The US will be the top exhibitor at the air show with 64 companies, followed by France, the UK, Russia and Israel, according to India’s defence production secretary G Mohan Kumar.
Boeing, Lockheed Martin and France’s Dassault Aviation SA will dominate the tarmac with fighter jets, transport and reconnaissance planes.
Mr Modi’s administration has cleared about $20 billion worth of arms purchases since he took power last year. He raised the foreign direct investment limit in defence to 49 per cent from an earlier cap of 26 per cent in a bid to spur manufacturing.
“This is the beginning of a new era for the defence industry in India – it will be no longer enough to buy equipment and simply assemble them here,” Mr Modi said at the air show on Wednesday.
“We have been doing this in the past without absorbing any technology or developing our own capabilities. In some areas we are where we were three decades ago.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
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All the Money in the World
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Charlie Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer
Four stars
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 3
Fleck 19, Mousset 52, McBurnie 90
Manchester United 3
Williams 72, Greenwood 77, Rashford 79
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ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
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