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Naftali Bennett Becomes Israel’s 13th Prime Minister. What Does It Mean For India?

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Naftali Bennett Becomes Israel’s 13th Prime Minister. What Does It Mean For India?

A former ally of Benjamin Netanyahu, Bennett made millions in hi-tech sector before formally stepping into politics. His Yamina alliance won just seven seats in the 120-seat Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in the March elections

Tel Aviv/ New Delhi: Naftali Bennett became the thirteenth Prime Minister of Israel on the evening of 13 June 2021. Bennett, the representative of Yamina (an alliance of Israeli right-wing parties) defeated Benjamin Netanyahu with a laser-thin margin of 60-59 inside 120-seat Knesset, the Israeli parliament. One member of Knesset had resigned during power-sharing negotiations bringing the current strength to 119 seats. Netanyahu served as Israeli Prime Minister for over 12 years, becoming the longest-serving Prime Minister of the Jewish-majority nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter on Monday to congratulate Naftali Bennett on becoming the Prime Minister of Israel.

“Excellency @naftalibennett, congratulations on becoming the Prime Minister of Israel. As we celebrate 30 years of the upgradation of diplomatic relations next year, I look forward to meeting you and deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries,” PM Modi wrote on Twitter, while also subsequently thanking the outgoing PM Netanyahu for his “personal attention to Indo-Israel strategic partnership”.

Who Is Naftali Bennett?

Naftali Bennett, in modern Israel’s 73-year long history, is the first Prime Minister to sport a kippa, a small skullcap wore by religious Jews. A former ally of Benjamin Netanyahu, Bennett made millions in hi-tech sector before formally stepping into politics. His Yamina alliance won just seven seats in the 120-seat Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in the March elections. However, he forged an unusual alliance by refusing to commit to Netanyahu, finally ending up as Prime Minister after months of negotiations.

According to reports in the Israeli media, Bennett is considered ‘an ultranationalist’, that is even more right of the outgoing Netanyahu. Bennett, under the agreements made by the currently ruling alliance of right, left and centre political parties, is set to remain Israel’s Prime Minister for the next two years. By June 2023, centrist leader Yair Lapid has been agreed upon to take over from Bennett.

Naftali Bennett And India – A Natural Alliance?

In former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, Naftali Bennett served as Finance Minister (2013-2015), Diaspora Affairs Minister (2013-2019) that is the equivalent of External Affairs Minister in India and Minister of Defence (2019-2020).

The year 2017 is considered a “unique juncture” in terms of the bilateral relations between India and Israel when the ties of two countries rose to the level of “strategic partnership”. In July 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian PM to embark on a state visit to Israel, followed by a similar reciprocation by former PM Netanyahu in January 2018. Naftali Bennett, being the Diaspora Affairs Minister was closely involved in the diplomatic exercises that led to the renewal of Indo-Israel ties along with former Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

At present, a tenth of India’s arms imports come out of Israel, according to a report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) closing the mark of USD 767 millions. In the last 10 years, India has imported a diverse range of missiles from Israel, including beyond visual range air-to-air Missile (BVRAAM), guided bombs and surface-to-air (SAM) missiles. These missiles are multi-purpose and can be launched from all land, water and air-based platforms.

Reports suggest that India, in order to decrease its dependence on the US and Russia when it comes to defence imports, will continue to move its defence ties closely to countries such as Israel and France while also attempting to procure defence-related equipment indigenously.

Bennett’s former placements in Israeli cabinets as Defence Minister and Diaspora Minister push the strategic objectives on as optimistic side if not more as they were during PM Netanyahu’s tenure.

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INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’

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INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’


NEW DELHI: India tested its nuclear capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), designed to have a strike range of 3,500 km, for the second time in six days on Friday. The missile test, as the one conducted on January 19, was undertaken from an undersea platform in the shape of a submersible pontoon off the coast of Andhra Pradesh according to a report by Rajat Pandit of TOI.

The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.

“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.

India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.

Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.

The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.





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After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%

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After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%


India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade

In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.

The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the upgrade. The upgrade is part of India’s efforts to improve the capabilities of its primary fighter aircraft, it refers to as the “Super Sukhoi”.

This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.

In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.





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Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace

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Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace


According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

While there is no official confirmation because of the sensitivities involved, documents suggest that the order for the same has already been placed the report further added.
There are nine countries, in turn, which have shown interest in the indigenously-developed Akash missile systems, which can intercept hostile aircraft, helicopters, drones and subsonic cruise missiles at a range of 25-km. They are Kenya, Philippines, Indonesia, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam and Algeria reported TOI.

The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.

Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System

BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.

Akash Weapon System

The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.

The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.

The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.





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