New Delhi, Sept 17: A high-level Indian delegation headed by defence secretary Subir Dutta has left for Israel to pursue a multi-million dollar deal for acquisition of the Phalcon airborne radars and other equipment.

The delegation, which also includes senior air force, army and naval officials, will be in Tel Aviv for a week to pursue the Phalcon deal as well as acquisition of more unmanned aerial vehicles for the IAF as well as the army and the navy. India is negotiating a tripartite deal with Russia and Israel to mount the Phalcon radars on a Russian IL-76 platform to give Indian Air Force its long-awaited first airborne early warning system.

The deal is awaiting a nod from Washington as the Phalcon radars are a joint Israel-US project. Though the Americans have said they are not opposing the sale of these AWACs radars to India, they are yet to give a green signal to Tel Aviv for the sale to go ahead. While, in Israel, defence sources said the delegation would also be shown a live demonstration of the Israeli sensors.

Bureau Report