If more than half of the Tavor's components are manufactured in the US, it would be defined as “Made in USA”, allowing US military aid to be used for procurement.
A senior IDF source has revealed that the IDF has suspended procurement of the new Tavor assault rifle, produced by Israel Military Industries (IMI). He cited the NIS 2.8 billion cut in the 2003 defense budget as the reason, adding, “We decided to procure the Tavor, but cannot do it now, for a lack of money.”
The IDF selected the Tavor for its combat units. The IMI also forged business relationships with US companies. If more than half of the Tavor's components are manufactured in the US, it would be defined as “Made in USA”, allowing US military aid to be used for procurement.
The cost of equipping the IDF with the Tavor is tens of millions of shekels. IMI hopes its use by the IDF will help it market the rifle overseas.
IMI chairman Arie Mizrachi told “Globes” in response, “We’re operating on the basis of promises by two ministers of defense (Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and Shaul Mofaz, D.M.) that the IDF would procure the Tavor, and we expect the procurement to go ahead.”
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on April 15, 2003