Report: India bought Israeli spy satellite By Haaretz News Service
March 23, 2009 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1072805.html India recently purchased an advanced spy satellite from Israel to boost its surveillance capabilities, India's NDTV news channel reported Friday. In late November coordinated shooting and bombing attacks rocked Mumbai's financial district, killing dozens and injuring hundreds. The acquisition was fast-tracked after the events. The report said the satellite can see through clouds and is capable of carrying out all-weather imaging during both day and night. The 300-kilogram RISAT 2 will be launched by India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket within a few weeks, the report said. The Indian security establishment has been seeking such a satellite, capable of monitoring events around the globe and especially in neighboring countries, for a long time. NDTV said the satellite could also track incoming ballistic missiles. India's existing satellites are rendered "blind" by darkness and by weather changes during the monsoon season. During recent years, Israel has replaced France as Indian's second largest arms supplier, after Russia. -- ================================ George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 Mail: antunes at uh dot edu *********************************** * POST TO [email protected] * *********************************** Medianews mailing list [email protected] http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
