Top government sources confirmed that without hindering the CBI investigations into the multi-million dollar Barak missile deal during the NDA regime, the CCS has authorised acquisition of the Spyder short range defence missile, a joint venture of Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Rafael, and the Defence Ministry issued an RFP (request for proposal) for an unspecified but large number of Barak Naval point defence system last month.

Both IAI and Rafael figure in the 2000 Barak deal for the Indian Navy.

Government sources told The Indian Express that the Defence Ministry has also gone to the CCS for approval of a multi-million dollar joint venture on medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) project between Israel defence contractors and the DRDO. Like the Barak missile, the MRSAM project was put on the backburner after the CBI registered a case against Israeli companies. New Delhi also has plans to acquire Aerostat balloon bearing radar systems and low level radars from Elta defence contractor to plug gaps in Indian air defence.

With the CBI investigations in the Barak case not showing much forward movement, the government has decided that Israeli defence purchases should be brought before the CCS as special cases. Before making a pitch for any defence acquisition from Israel, the CCS is apprised of the CBI case and also the strategic importance of the purchase in the unfolding regional security environment.

At the joint working group on defence meeting in Tel Aviv on November 11, the Israeli side raised the issue of the CBI case hindering defence cooperation between the two sides. But Indian officials made it clear that CBI investigations into the Barak case will not be allowed to impinge on defence purchases needed for national security. Indian officials were also taken to the Ben Gurion international airport in Tel Aviv to review the PHALCON AWACS project with the first of the three contracted strategic force multipliers scheduled to arrive in India in March 2009.