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Modi's Israel visit said to spur missile deal as ties deepen

Deals for Spike anti-tank and Barak-8 air defence missiles expected to be finalised in next 2 months

Washington

INDIA is close to signing two defence deals with Israel as it seeks to deepen ties with the Middle Eastern nation before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in July, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The deals include anti-tank missiles and a naval air defence weapon system, the sources said, asking not to be identified as the information is private.

Still, the plan for the first trip to Israel by an Indian prime minister indicates that cooperation goes beyond Delhi's status as the largest buyer of Israeli military hardware.

"The visit is a big milestone," said Shailesh Kumar, senior Asia analyst at political risk firm Eurasia Group. "Officials in both countries believe...

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