A third successful test-firing and this locally made missile would be ready for series production and induction. True, this missile’s performance is deficient owing to a sub-par Russian radar seeker, but there’s little else wrong with it. The Israeli contracts to win goodwill are like the PM’s announcement in April 2015 in Paris to buy 36 Rafale combat aircraft. The Indian contract will fetch France Rs 1,750 crore per Rafale, for a minimum payout by India of Rs 63,000 crore. Between an imports-fixated Indian military and an Indian government that seems incapable of thinking straight, the country is fated to remain an arms dependency.

Source: Indian Express July 16, 2017 18:45 UTC