Iron Dome to star at Aero-India 2013

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NEW DELHI, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Israel plans to show off its Iron Dome missile defense system, which has intercepted hundreds of Gaza rockets, at the Aero-India 2013 in Bangalore, India.

Israeli security and defense companies will display some of the most advanced technologies at the exposition, which opens Thursday.

Israel and India maintain close security cooperation and defense ties. In March 2011, India signed a $1 billion deal with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries signed a $2.5 billion deal with India in 2007 to develop anti-aircraft and missile systems.

There have also been a number of joint weapons development projects and top Indian and Israeli military officials maintain close ties.

"In our region, necessity has been the mother of creativity and Israel's defense industries are the living embodiment of this statement. With hard work, years of intense investment in R&D and creativity which stems from our unique situation here, our defense industries lead the way in an array of fields. We look forward to sharing these resourceful ideas and innovative systems with our Indian friends once again in Bangalore," the Israeli Embassy website in New Delhi quoted Udi Shani, director general of Israel's Ministry of Defense and leader of the Israeli delegation, as saying.

Systems developed by Israel's aerospace and defense industries, including the airborne early warning radar being installed in Israeli air force jets as well as advanced defense missile systems, are only a few of the strategic systems developed by the Israeli military that will go on display, the website said.

Other exhibits include advanced precision guided weapons and missiles, avionics equipment, communications and intelligence-gathering and surveillance and reconnaissance equipment as well as sophisticated protection systems ranging from active electronic warfare systems to passive armory systems.

Israeli defense companies displaying their ware include Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Orbit Communications Systems, Opgal Electronic Systems and UVision Global Aerial Systems.