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The Kremlin Goes Drone Shopping (I Israel)
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/the-kremlin-goes-drone-shopping/?hp ^

Posted on 11/18/2008 1:47:24 PM PST by kronos77

The Russian Army, long known for the overwhelming depth of its human resources, is now seeking out arms technology that reduces the need for putting soldiers in harm’s way.

As Ha’aretz, the Israeli daily, reported yesterday, the Russia is looking to buy unmanned aerial vehicles, or U.A.V.’s, from Israel. Apparently, the Russian military liked what it saw during the conflict in Georgia (of course, at the time, any flattery was plainly destructive):

The Russian initiative comes as part of the lessons learned from last summer’s war with Georgia in South Ossetia and from Russian officials’ positive impressions of the Hermes U.A.V., manufactured by the Israeli firm Elbit and used by Georgian forces in that conflict.

Israel Aircraft Industries, which produces the “Heron” U.A.V., is also involved in competition for the deal. The scope of the agreement remains unclear.

Sources in Israel say the deal is expected to reach at least $10-20 million and will include ground stations, maintenance and instruction. Such a contract would include provisions that the U.A.V.’s are intended for the country that acquires them. This means that Russia will not be allowed to sell them to foreign countries, even if they are produced under license in a foreign factory.

That provision is meant to allay Israeli concerns that arms technology it sells to Russia might be passed along to Iran or Syria, both of which have received missile systems from the Russian military in the past, according to Ha’aretz.

(Excerpt) Read more at thelede.blogs.nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: israel; military; russia; russianthreat

1 posted on 11/18/2008 1:47:25 PM PST by kronos77
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To: kronos77

That provision is meant to allay Israeli concerns that arms technology it sells to Russia might be passed along to Iran or Syria, both of which have received missile systems from the Russian military in the past, according to Ha’aretz.
_________

And everyone knows the Russians can’t reverse-engineer anything. Nah. And they never sell plans or know-how. And their technicians love the Motherland, and never seek better paying employment elsewhere.


2 posted on 11/18/2008 1:51:45 PM PST by heartwood
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To: kronos77

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k6KUDv1wzraWhwlBt1

The “Red Army” approach was to send waves and waves of soldiers to their certain doom until the enemy grew tired of killing them or ran out of bullets.


3 posted on 11/18/2008 1:55:22 PM PST by word_warrior_bob (You can now see my amazing doggie and new puppy on my homepage!! Come say hello to Jake & Sonny)
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To: kronos77

I bet the Israelis put a little “phone home” bug and doomsday switch in the machines they sell the Russians

AND

No the Russians cannot reverse engineer anything. The Chinese are a different story.


4 posted on 11/18/2008 1:56:56 PM PST by Sunnyflorida (Unless you are nice and thoughtful you will be ignored. Write in Thomas Sowell.)
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To: kronos77

Tattoo throat: Cut Here!


5 posted on 11/18/2008 1:57:05 PM PST by onedoug
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To: word_warrior_bob

Take a look at Russian demography. They aren’t going to have waves of young soldiers handy much longer.


6 posted on 11/18/2008 2:05:01 PM PST by Sherman Logan (Everyone has a right to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.)
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To: kronos77

They should not. It is against Israels security interests to sell arms to Russia. Russia is allied with Israels enemies. If a war breaks out with Israel / Iran / Egypt / Syria. Russia may move against Israel. It almost happened in Israels previous wars with Egypt and friends.


7 posted on 11/18/2008 2:42:23 PM PST by scfischer7
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To: Sunnyflorida

The Russians “Reverse Engineered” most of its weapons during the Cold War.


8 posted on 11/19/2008 12:03:31 AM PST by Thunder90
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To: Thunder90

“The Russians “Reverse Engineered” most of its weapons during the Cold War.’

The Soviets ATTEMPTED to reverse engineer...rarely, if ever, successfully. Their stuff is crap.


9 posted on 11/19/2008 8:59:54 AM PST by Sunnyflorida (Unless you are nice and thoughtful you will be ignored. Write in Thomas Sowell.)
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To: Sunnyflorida
The Soviets ATTEMPTED to reverse engineer...rarely, if ever, successfully

Look into the story of the TU-4 sometime.

L

10 posted on 11/19/2008 9:02:35 AM PST by Lurker ("America is at that awkward stage. " Claire Wolfe, call your office.)
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To: Lurker

Thanks, interesting story. I suppose the bottom line is that if they had decent engineering and manufacturing capabilities they could have designed and built an aircraft with similar mission profile in less time and with better outcome than the clone-job they attempted - all to funny that by the time they got it done it was obsolete.


11 posted on 11/19/2008 9:12:59 AM PST by Sunnyflorida (Unless you are nice and thoughtful you will be ignored. Write in Thomas Sowell.)
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To: Sunnyflorida; Lurker

They also did a pretty fair job on a B-1 clone too.


12 posted on 11/19/2008 9:18:34 AM PST by AFreeBird
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To: Sunnyflorida
And I'm not sure I'd call the AK-47 crap seeing as how it's the most successful weapon design in the history of mankind.

Had Sgt. Kalishnikov been paid a dollar a rifle and invested it conservatively he'd be richer than Bill Gates.

L

13 posted on 11/19/2008 9:27:18 AM PST by Lurker ("America is at that awkward stage. " Claire Wolfe, call your office.)
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To: Lurker

AK is relatively simple manufacturing processes. Nothing compared to what the Israelis are building.


14 posted on 11/19/2008 9:42:16 AM PST by Sunnyflorida (Unless you are nice and thoughtful you will be ignored. Write in Thomas Sowell.)
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To: Sunnyflorida
AK is relatively simple manufacturing processes

Very true. Therein lies the genius of it.

Nothing compared to what the Israelis are building.

Get back to me when there are 40-50 million Tabors in circulation.

L

15 posted on 11/19/2008 9:44:39 AM PST by Lurker ("America is at that awkward stage. " Claire Wolfe, call your office.)
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