India Buys Israeli Anti-Aircraft Missiles

The defence acquisition council of India has cleared a multi-billion-dollar contract to acquire Spyder anti-aircraft missiles from Israel's Rafael Advanced Defence Systems.

The Spyder missile will enforce India's air defence network and safeguard the army's armoured vehicles and tanks from foreign air attack.

The Spyder is a low-level, immediate reaction, surface-to-air missile and can target aircraft, helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, pilotless remote-controlled aircraft and precision-guided munitions.

The missile can operate 360° with a ground target range extending from less than 1km to more than 35km and at altitudes from 20m to 9,000m.

The missile takes less than five seconds to launch a target and is capable of firing multiple targets in all types of weather conditions.