India is Our Strategic Partner: Rafael

By Editor 10-Apr-2018

India and Israel are strategic partners and Israel has always supported India’s urgent operational necessities during times of crises. For Rafael too, India is a strategic and significant partner. Rafael has been an active participant in the Indian Defence Market for more than two decades. Rafael has always stood by India to supply systems at short notice during various operational contingencies. We have always endeavoured to contribute to the modernization of the Indian Armed Forces,” says Maj. General (Retd.) Yoav Har-Even, President and CEO, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Rafael will showcase the best of its advanced systems at DefExpo 2018, Chennai. Yoav Har-Even speaks with Aeromag about Rafael’s strategic relationship with India and how it could cater to the defence needs of India.

  1. Rafael has been focusing on the exports of its advanced defence systems to South Asian region. With regard to this how do you consider Rafael’s relationship with India, one of the largest defence importers in the world? What are the prospects for Rafael in India?

India and Israel are strategic partners and Israel has always supported India’s urgent operational necessities during times of crises. For Rafael too, India is a strategic and significant partner. Rafael has always stood by India to supply systems at short notice during various operational contingencies.

Accordingly, Rafael has been more than willing to create structures to ensure technological transfer to India.

We already work with the different branches of the Indian military and the Indian security apparatus and have cooperated to integrate our electro-optical systems, advanced ordnance, as well as air defence systems. We have done so while maintaining and implementing our strategy to forge local partnerships and address India’s ‘Make in India’ policy.

  1. With the Indian government eagerly proceeding with modernization of the armed forces by inducting sophisticated weapon systems and equipment, what all products and services are offered by Rafael to India in bolstering its defence?

Rafael has been an active participant in the Indian Defence Market for more than two decades. We have always endeavoured to contribute to the modernization of the Indian Armed Forces. A number of our systems are in use by India, including the SPYDER ADS, Barak -1 SAM, Reccelite EO-IR Pod, Shipborne EW Systems SPICE air-to-ground munition, Litening pods, communication, SPIKE EO tactical missiles, etc. We continue to offer India a wide portfolio of capabilities including air defence with the combat-proven Iron Dome system, naval asset air defence with the C-Dome (an Iron Dome derivative using the same interceptor), Trophy – the world’s only combat-proven APS with numerous interceptions on the battlefield. We are also continuing to out our focus on the BNET SDR FAMILY - Broadband MANET IP Software-Defined Radio for ground and air applications, as well as on underwater systems of torpedo decoys and underwater communication, remote-weapon stations, and EO surveillance.

  1. Could you elaborate on Rafael’s various air and missile defence systems that could play a vital role in a country like India which is facing threats and conflicts along its long borders?

Rafael's Air Defence system provides a complete solution ensuring tactical overmatch against a broad spectrum of air and missile threats. The solution is based on a multi-layered concept that has been designed to provide optimum protection against all current and future airborne threats.

The layered concept consists of two separate double-tiered systems that cope effectively with two different types of threats. These separate systems are modular yet provide maximum interoperability and connectivity.

The new Iron Dome and David's Sling missile defence systems provide a comprehensive double-tiered solution. Both are operational with the Israeli Air Force. Iron Dome is combat-proven with over 1700 interceptions. David’s Sling has already been delivered to the Israeli Air Force.

At DEFEXPO 2018 we are also exhibiting the C-Dome naval air defence system, already operational with the Israeli Navy. The C-Dome Naval Point Defense System is designed to effectively protect combat vessels against a large set of modern threats. C-Dome handles saturation attacks by engaging multiple targets simultaneously. Reaction time is very short and enables automatic and semi-automatic engagements.

C-Dome uses the combat-proven Iron Dome interceptor that has already achieved more than 1700 successful interceptions.

  1. Cyber terrorism is one of the major challenges faced by countries all over the world including India. In this respect what solutions could Rafael provide to keep advanced cyber threats at bay?

Rafael is a leader in Cyber defence and as such it has developed a cyber defence approach, relaying on its vast experience from the defence world. A proactive cyber defence, integrating technologies, adapting them to the customer's needs and enhancing them with Rafael's technologies.

Rafael offers the Cyber Dome Center – an advanced SIEM/SOC with additional proactive and predictive capabilities. Rafael built and operates the Israeli National CERT and Israel’s Central Credit Registry cyber protection.

As part of the Cyber Dome Center Rafael developed the Advanced Threat Intelligence platform, enabling the analysts of the cyber command centre to manage, fuse, enhance and investigate cyber events, feeds and intelligence information.

Another solution Rafael offers to its customers is a cyber defence solution for highly sensitive and large-scale data centres. Similar to the solution we implement with the National Bank of Israel, a holistic cyber defence suite for large scale data centres is necessary for its availability and integrity of information while keeping the information confidential and private.

In addition, Rafael offers the SCADA Dome – a cyber defence solution designed specifically for SCADA systems. The SCADA Dome monitors the system from both the physical and cybernetic aspects and deliver a comprehensive security picture. The SCADA Dome solution was adapted for different needs such as railway and public transportation, energy sector and oil and gas facilities.

Railway holistic defence – Rafael designed an interdisciplinary defence solution for public transportation in general, and railways and train systems especially. This solution combines physical security, cyber defence and data centre defence. It integrates together these different domains and fuse them to one holistic defence suite.

  1. The Israeli ministry of defence and Rafael have been in talk with India regarding the restoration of the Spike anti-tank missile deal. Please share the latest updates?

Rafael and its partners in India are continuing to negotiate a path for the acquisition of the SPIKE missile systems. We are happy that the deal was brought back to the table and we are hopeful for a positive eventuality.

  1. Apart from making Spike missiles, Rafael’s India facility at Hyderabad has planned to also make electro-optic systems, remotely controlled weapons and other advanced products. Could you talk about the future operations at the facility?

As part of our global strategy, we form alliances to develop military applications based on our proprietary technologies. Rafael considers India as a strategic partner and will continue to move towards indigenous production and development of advanced defence systems. Rafael looks to India for cooperation in the defence Industry as a strategic relation. We are fully committed to support `Make in India’ initiative of the Prime Minister, and KRAS is our strategic partner for that.