15 Israeli defense companies are expected to participate in the Aero India 2015 air show scheduled to open today in Bangalore, India. Many foreign companies will display their latest developments in Aero India, which is considered one of the most prestigious air shows in the world. The Israeli pavilion is expected to attract a great deal of attention, among other things due to the tight cooperation between the security authorities in India and Israeli companies, reflected in deals and cooperation amounting to billions of dollars in recent years.
Some of the products to be displayed in the exhibition were used by the IDF in the Gaza Strip last summer during Operation Protective Edge. Sources in the defense companies believe this fact is likely to generate great interest among procurement representatives of many armies around the world. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. plans to display its C-Dome naval defense system, based on the Iron Dome system.
C-Dome is an interception system designed to provide 360-degree protection against existing and future threats to vessels and oil and gas drilling platforms. It can intercept a number of threats simultaneously, such as attack warplanes and missiles aimed at vessels or platforms. The system uses the same Tamir missile interceptors used in Iron Dome. Rafael says that owing to its small size, the defense system can be installed on both large and small warships, and on patrol boats. The water resistant containers used to store the interceptors require no maintenance.
Rafael will also display its newly developed Spice 250 long-range air-to-ground precision weapon guidance kit. This GPS-guided weapon is capable hitting both mobile and stationary targets with great accuracy. Rafael asserts that the kit's guidance system can also overcome GPS jamming, while being aimed at the target by comparing an image of the target to an image fed into it ahead of time.
Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) announced that it would display a new naval patrol plane at the exhibition, based on the Bombardier Global 500 executive jet, which has been adjusted to enable it to carry advanced surveillance, tracking, and defense equipment. IAI also reported a cooperation agreement with Indian company Alpha for the production of a mini-UAV from the Bird-Eye family. Under the agreement, the aircraft will be manufactured in India and used by that country's security forces. IAI CEO Joseph Weiss said, "The defense forces in India are currently presenting extremely exacting requirements for companies seeking to sell their systems there."
Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT) will present a range of anti-missile defense products for ships from the Music product series. These products are based on technology that makes it possible to protect threatened vessels by using a laser beam to deflect missiles launched against them. Elbit is offering systems from this series for protection of helicopters, passenger planes, executive jets, etc. In addition, Elbit will present a range of pilot helmets, including the Targo helmet, which displays flight, mission, and weapons systems data for the pilot on its visor, thereby making it unnecessary to look at the built-in systems in the cockpit.
Besides the large companies, Israel startup Video Inform, which develops special software for automatic high-speed detection of objects using aerial and satellite photographs, will also have a display at the air show. Other participants include Opgal, Orbit Technologies Ltd. (TASE:ORBI), Controp, and other small defense companies with many new developments.
Israel Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon, Ministry of Defense director general General (res.) Dan Harel, Foreign Defense Assistance and Defense Export Organization (SIBAT) director Brigadier General (res.) Mishel Ben Baruch, and Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (Mafat) deputy director Ophir Shoham will inaugurate the Israeli pavilion at the air show. This is the first visit by an Israeli Minister of Defense to India. During his stay in Bangladore, Ya'alon is scheduled to meet with senior Indian government officials, including the Minister of Defense, and the Czech Minister of Defense.
Before leaving on his trip, Ya'alon said, "This visit is extremely significant, because it is the first visit to India by an Israeli Minister of Defense. It is very important for tightening relations with a growing power like India. The Indian government is a true friend of Israel, and the two countries' common interests will contribute greatly to both countries. The defense establishments of the respective countries are also on very good terms. At the weapons exhibition, we'll once again enjoy the power of the Israeli defense industries, the special quality of the companies and their employees, and the fact that they are regarded worldwide as the creme de la creme."
Harel also mentioned the deep defense ties between Israel and India, saying, "Israel is one of India's most significant defense partners. We're both taking part in the war against terrorism, and are conducting a dialogue between the Ministries of Defense and the defense forces. The Israeli pavilion at the exhibition, one of the largest set up by the Ministry of Defense in recent years, reflects the importance that we attribute to this partnership, and creates a platform for us to leverage the qualitative advantage of the defense industries."
The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday discussed for the first time changes in the Defense Export Controls Act. The changes proposed by the Israeli Defense Export Controls Agency in the Ministry of Defense will make it easier to export some defense products from Israel. Discussions on the matter are also expected to take place in the coming weeks. Under the plan submitted to the Knesset by the Ministry of Defense, the time required for granting export licenses for defense products will be shortened in some cases.
In addition, adoption of the recommendations and amending the law are also likely to include for the first time supervision by the Ministry of Defense of private Israeli citizens brokering deals in which countries purchase weapons from Israel and resell them to third countries. Another proposal to be discussed by the Committee is charging a NIS 200 fee for every request for a license to market a defense product in order to streamline the activity of the Defense Export Controls Agency.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 18, 2015
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015