NEW DELHI, 2 October 2003 — India’s technology-starved air force said yesterday the delivery of the Phalcon airborne early warning radar from Israel would take time as the system was being fine-tuned to Indian specifications.

Air force chief S. Krishnaswamy told reporters here the Indian Air Force (IAF) had asked for modifications to be done before taking delivery of the three Airborne Warning And Control Systems (AWACS).

India and Israel agreed in principle on the sale of the AWACS during Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s four-day visit here last month but a formal signing of the billion-dollar contract is only expected to be carried out in Tel Aviv later this year.

“The IAF is working on the technicalities and compatibility of the Phalcon systems, hence it will take some time before the delivery is made,” Krishnaswamy said without giving any time frame.

“There are certain modifications, alterations and adjustments to be made so that the systems are compatible for the IAF and we are seeking the technical expertise of various countries in this regard,” he added.

The United States, which had been blocking the sale of Phalcons to both India and China, has given Tel Aviv the go-ahead to sign the AWACS deal with New Delhi. Israel coordinates its military sales with Washington because the two nations’ defense industries are closely linked and often share technological advances.

India, however, wants to fit the Israeli AWACS on its Russian Ilyshin-76 cargo aircraft while Israel reportedly insists that New Delhi acquire the full package, which includes planes from US-based Boeing Corporation.

The IAF chief declined to elaborate on the Phalcon negotiations, which gained momentum in September last year when then Indian Defense Secretary Subir Dutta visited Tel Aviv for a week for talks on the AWACS.

After Russia, Israel in recent years has become India’s second largest defense supplier with armament sales from Tel Aviv to New Delhi touching 60 billion rupees ($1.25 billion) in 2001.

India recognized Israel soon after the Jewish state’s creation in 1948 but for decades has been close to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, a frequent visitor to India.

New Delhi did not establish diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv until 1992 amid the then-flourishing Middle East peace process.