The Hindu : Talks on with U.S. to acquire missile shield

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 29, 2002

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Talks on with U.S. to acquire missile shield

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 28. Even as India has initiated talks with the United States for a missile defence shield, it has acquired an early warning system to counter the threat of a missile attack by Pakistan.

Confirming the acquisition of the highly sophisticated Green Pine radar from Israel that can simultaneously track the trajectory of several missiles, the Defence Secretary, Yogendra Narain, today said that it was too early to acquire other sub-systems of a comprehensive shield that could neutralise ballistic missile attacks since they were still being tested.

In view of China's reservations, Mr. Narain was cautious over the progress made to acquire the advanced Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), although its purchase was approved in May 2000. He said the plan to buy the Phalcon radar, which can track up to 60 targets over an 800-km radius, was a matter of "operational detail''. China, having been denied the Israeli Phalcon-fitted AWACS in June last, had warned that the acquisition of such systems by other neighbouring countries would endanger peace and stability in South Asia. Although India is keen on a missile defence system, defence analysts point out that the concept is still in its infancy. India would also have to take several auxiliary measures to collaborate closely with the U.S. Missile Defence Agency (MDA) such as establishing linkages between its national surveillance grid and America's worldwide surveillance systems.

At the moment, the purchase of the two Green Pine radars should be seen in the context of the Government's drive to purchase military hardware for all the three services. This was indicated as much by Mr. Narain who pointed out that several crucial modules of a comprehensive missile shield were still being developed by Israel. The U.S. had also reported mixed results in its four reported missile defence tests.

The last disclosed test conducted jointly by the MDA and the U.S. Army saw one advanced Patriot PAC-3 missile intercepting its target but a second one failed to launch. The test was to judge Patriot's ability to classify the high velocity, low radar signature target as a tactical ballistic missile, discriminate between the re-entry vehicle and the accompanying debris and destroy the hostile missile.

The radars though could serve the country's immediate defence needs against Pakistani missiles.

They would supplement the aerostat balloons and unmanned aerial vehicles also being acquired from Israel to step up monitoring capabilities.

The balloons fitted with sophisticated cameras have a surveillance capability up to an area of 500 sq.km. The Union Cabinet had approved their purchase early this year.

In light of its perception of India as a stabilising force in Asia, the U.S. is equally keen to involve New Delhi in the missile shield, which could be operational by 2005-06. A high-level team headed by Mr. Narain was recently invited to the Joint Integration Center in Colorado Springs for a briefing on various missile defence concepts.

An Indian team also attended a specialised conference on the subject in Dallas, Texas, this month.

The acquisition of Green Pine radars was preceded by an agreement for American weapon locating radars, which will be inducted in slightly less than two years.

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