The new procurement items under discussion between India and Israel, the weekly said, include up to eight units of the Searcher-2 unmanned aerial vehicle, battlefield radar systems and artillery systems.

The proposed purchases also include avionics and other upgrades for India's fleet of MI-35 helicopters, T-72 and Arjun tanks, and SU-30 and MIG-27s and Jaguars, it said.

Meanwhile, Israel has agreed to speed up delivery of more than 150 million dollars worth of equipment India had earlier ordered, including munitions, weapons, surveillance systems and military communications gear, the weekly reported quoting Israeli government and industry officials.

India, the weekly said, has also ordered EL/M-2080 search, acquisition and fire control radar systems developed for the Arrow tactical ballistic missile interceptor. The Arrow radar,however, will not be ready for delivery until 2001 at the earliest.

Indian and Israeli sources are quoted as saying that the Israeli-developed radar will provide early warning until new Delhi develops its own interceptor.

An Israeli official stated that Israel's defence trade relations with India remain ultra-sensitive because of repeated US requests for voluntary restraint regarding arms transfers to New Delhi.

However, despite US sensitivities, the weekly said, Israel and India intend to extend their primarily defence trade relationship into the operational realm.

The recent visit by Brajesh Mishra, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's National Security advisor, will be followed by a visit by one of India's service chiefs and a reciprocal visit to New Delhi by Lt General Shaul Mofaz, Israeli Defence Forces' Chief of staff.