''Defense News'' reports in its latest issue that India wants to buy pictures from Israel's new Ofek 5 photoreconnaissance satellite.
India wants high-resolution pictures of Kashmir to be either delivered directly, or via Israel, in exchange for a fixed fee. In other words, India would lease the satellite's photoreconnaissance capability.
The request was one of the items in the package of defense procurements and security cooperation deals India Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Defense Minister George Fernandes submitted to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during his recent visit to New Delhi.
Acceding to the request would require a change in policy by the Ministry of Defense not to share pictures taken by Israel's photoreconnaissance satellites with other countries either directly or indirectly.
Israel has developed the photoreconnaissance satellites in collaboration with other countries, sharing technologies developed for the Ofek satellites.
An Indian Ministry of Defense official said the proposal was based on India's wish to strengthen its intelligence-gathering capabilities in Kashmir, control of which India and Pakistan have disputed since independence in 1947.
Performance data about Ofek 5 is classified, but its pictures reportedly have a resolution of 50 cm. Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) Mabat division developed and built Ofek 5, which was launched in the spring of 2002 from Israel's Shavit satellite launcher.
Israel has avoided giving India a definitive answer regarding leasing Ofek 5, but has informed New Delhi that it may use pictures taken by the Eros B commercial photoreconnaissance satellite, scheduled for launch in late 2004.
Israeli-controlled ImageSat will operate the Eros B. India already uses the services of ImageSat's Eros A photoreconnaissance satellite, as a satellite operating partner (SOP).
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on September 25, 2003