New Delhi: To speed up the country's missile programme hit by time overrun and technology denial, India is turning to Israel to update the programme as well as revive some other hi-tech systems.

The cooperation sought, officials said, would be on both short-range missile like C-Skimmimg Danush slated to be ready for induction to a new inertial navigation system (INS) and for longer-range missiles like the 3000 km range Agni III, waiting to be test fired.

Also on the card, officials said, would be joint collaboration to revive the extremely complex multi-target surface to air missile.

A high level Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) delegation headed by its head Dr V K Atre is leaving early in October on a week long visit to Israel to seek what officials termed as "Israeli collaboration in updating the missile programme".

The visit assumes significance as the country's major missile programme including the crucial Pak- centric short-range surface to surface 700 km range Agni I and surface to air Aakash missiles are yet to be inducted.

The visit would be a follow up discussion on negotiations already held here with high level Israeli delegation led by Tel Aviv's ministry of Defence Exports chief Major General Amos Mayer during the recent visit of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in New Delhi.

Besides negotiations on missiles, the delegation would also take up discussions on Indo-Israeli joint ventures in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and electronic warfare and flight control systems for indigenous LCA (Light Combat Aircraft).

According to experts, India uses the strap-down INS guidance, which is reportedly said to be unsuitable for long-range missiles as it could lead to inaccuracies.

Sources said acquisition of INS technology from outside was a high priority for the ministry of Defence.

The other missile, which would figure in the talks in Tel Aviv, sources said, could be the revival of the indigenous surface to air Trishul missile.

The missile with a multi-target capability was being tested by DRDO in the anti-missile configuration but was put on the back burner following technological denial and failure in a number of test firings.

The missile is being developed for both surface to air and naval applications but recently after a lot of rectification the DRDO carried out a number of successful test firing of the missile as technical demonstration for certain key sub-systems.

India has been on the look out for anti-missile system and is seeking to purchase the US-Israel Arrow system. New Delhi has earlier evinced interest in the Russian S-300 missile system.

The Arrow system is still on the technology demonstration stage and India has been invited to a series of international demonstration carried out by the US for its allies.

India, official sources said, had also sought from the US Defence department technical information on the Patriot, the US anti-missile system already operational.

PTI