Israel dominates drones at Paris Air Show

Jerusalem Post ^ | Jun. 16, 2003 | MARC DAUGHERTY

[yonif]

Held every two years at Le Bourget just outside the French capital during the third week of June, the Paris Air Show is considered the premier venue for the world's aerospace industries and the place for defense officials to meet, mix and snoop. "Israel is comfortably ranked on the world's top ten list of leading defense manufacturers," Israeli Defense Ministry Director-General Amos Yaron told reporters at the Israeli pavilion, one of the largest at the show. "We intend to cultivate the image of Israel as a world-class defense industry leader in order to improve relationships with countries important for Israel," said Yaron.

According to one recent estimate, Israel now has the third largest arms export industry after the US and Russia. Israel revealed an unusually large number of recently declassified military hardware items, among them air-launched missiles, pilotless planes, aircraft upgrades and homeland security systems.

In the wake of the September 11th bombings and last year's failed attempt to down an Israeli airliner in Mombassa, security systems are now in great demand, and there is fierce competition amongst Israeli firms in the field. IAI boasted its 'Flight Guard' flare dispensing system, which was successfully tested when US Air Force F-15 fighters recently fired 9 missiles at a pilotless plane equipped with the system, which uses radar to detect incoming shoulder-launched guided rockets. But competing Elbit officials dismissed Flight Guard, claiming that no country would allow flares to be fired over airports located near populated areas. Elbit intends to field a system using a laser to thwart incoming heat-seeking missiles.

Among other systems on display is RAFAEL's Python 5 air-to-air missile. The Python 5 is the "world's first air combat missile which can make a 180 degrees u-turn and be fired at rearward enemy aircraft," said RAFAEL's marketing manager Eitan Yudilevich. Sweden also displayed the Python 5, in addition to many other RAFAEL missiles, as part of the weapons package on offer with its latest Grippen jet fighter.

Also on show is the Boeing 737 spy plane developed by IAI credited last year with locating the Karin-A arms ship headed for Gaza.

Elbit is also displaying a wide range of pilotless drones, large and small, including the Seagull, a miniature birdlike electric pilotless spy plane weighing 5 kilograms, which Elbit officials claim is nearly undetectable. "The last remaining competitors for the British 'Watchkeeper' multi-billion pounds tactical drones tender are ourselves and the United States' Northrop Grumman—itself offering the UK a drone designed by Israel Aircraft Industries," said Elbit's programs manager Itai Toren. "This shows how Israel nearly dominates the world pilotless drones market." A spokesman for Northrop Grumman also said his company is developing a version of IAI's Hunter drone armed with homing anti-tank cluster bombs called BATs (Brilliant Anti-Tank Munitions).

Nearly all Israeli manufactures complain about the political difficulties they face in marketing their products in crucial European markets since the start of the current Intifada. "There is a trend towards mass politicization of our defense ventures in Europe," said IAI's marketing manager Shimon Ekhaus. "But we nearly always overcome these by teaming up with local European firms who help us politically." He further remarked that while defense ties with France were good, "we'd rather remain quiet about them."

[yonif]

Elbit is also displaying a wide range of pilotless drones, large and small, including the Seagull, a miniature birdlike electric pilotless spy plane weighing 5 kilograms, which Elbit officials claim is nearly undetectable.

[joesnuffy]

We intend to cultivate the image of Israel as a world-class defense industry leader in order to improve relationships with countries important for Israel,"

[jriemer]

Seagull approx. 5kg close-in tactical

Skylark 2man portable close-in tactical

[kinghorse]

Mister Rantisi would agree. Must be frightening to have the the IDF triangulating on you after doing your "dog peeing under the table" terrorism trick. Sneaky dogs are getting fingered in the act.

I wouldn't accept that these morlocks are interested in peace, only buying time. Why not take the attack to them in earnest? Why the slow bleed?

[veronica]

BTTT...

[bvw]

"2man" ?

[cookcounty]

"Israel dominates drones at Paris Air Show"

Shame on you. Just because the French are dying off and forgot how to produce their next generation, it still isn't very nice to call them drones!

[jriemer]

"2man" ?

I should have put, "portable by two-men"