Israel's 5th Iron Dome battery. Photo: MOD.

India has no interest in purchasing the Iron Dome defense system from Israel, although the two countries have been discussing a possible transaction for the past two years, Norman Anil Kumar Browne, the Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, told reporters on Thursday.

India is developing its own missile defense system, having successfully intercepted a ballistic missile  from a range of 2000 kilometers  during a test last May. India has joined a small club of countries with the capability to intercept long range missiles, along with Israel, the US, and Russia.

In early 2009, India started a $2.2 billion joint venture with Israel wherein India’s Defense Research and Development Organization is working with Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael to develop a 70-kilometer medium-range surface-to-air missile program.