Home Alliance Tracker November 24th Edition

November 24th Edition

Jewish Policy Center
SOURCE

Israeli Military Technology

Tel-Aviv-based startup Windward showcased a new maritime analytics software to DefenseNews. The program uses real time ship tracking data along with information on historical ship movements to validate the identities of vessels and to spot suspicious behavior. Windward combats multiple ways that ships hide their illicit activities, including GPS manipulation and signal spoofing.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced that its new aerial early-warning system, TERRA, a dual-band array, is already operational. Pairing powerful and long-range UHF radar and a S-Band active electronically scanned array (AESA) enables the defensive system to reliably track and identify a wide variety of threats including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and satellites.

The Hermes 900 unmanned drone, built by Elbit Systems, has become fully integrated into the Israeli Air Force (IAF). In contrast to some of the UAV’s missions during the 2014 Gaza war, Elbit employees are no longer needed at ground stations and alongside drone operators.

The two radar array for IAI’s new TERRA system. (Photo: IAI)

Northrop Grumman announced that it had delivered the fuselage for Israel’s first F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant for final assembly at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Texas. Israel expects to take ownership of the plane in 2016. Meanwhile, Israeli Aerospace firms, including Elbit and IAI, are awaiting responses to bids that could provide the companies hundreds of millions of dollars for services at two F-35 repair facilities in Europe.

Israeli Military Sales

Elbit systems will facilitate live-fire training for Polish special forces for an undisclosed cost. The contract includes delivery of a “wide array of operational conditions and real-world elements, including those found in urban, rural and indoor environments” as well as simulated weapons.

Officials from Uruguay have expressed interest in Elbit’s Skylark I-LE hand launched UAV after observing how the IDF uses the drone. The 16.5lb UAV carries electro-optical/infrared sensors enabling it to track moving objects and, with a maximum altitude of 15,000ft, has a range of 27 miles.

War on ISIS

The U.S. military has stationed six additional F-15E fighter jets at the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey to conduct airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria. The planes will also help defend the integrity of Turkish airspace, according to military commanders.

Levant Watch

Lebanon confirmed its planned purchase of six Embraer A-29 Super Tucano turboprop planes to provide the government with light air support coverage. The contract includes logistical support and training, and has already been approved by the U.S. State Department.

A Jordanian police officer shot and killed five people, including two U.S. government contractors, at a training facility near Amman on November 9th. The motive of the shooter, who was killed at the scene, remains unknown. The two Americans had been working with the security firm DynCorp for a State Department International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Bureau training initiative.

Jordan took delivery of three U.S.-manufactured Blackhawk helicopters on November 18th. Five more are scheduled for delivery to help the Kingdom upgrade its capabilities and safeguard its borders.

Turkey Watch

Ankara canceled a $3.4 billion plan to have China provide a long-range missile defense system to the country, saying that it hopes to develop its own solution domestically. U.S. and European allies had worried that connecting Chinese technology into NATO’s air defense system could cause a security risk.

Gulf Watch

The State Department approved the possible sale of a variety of air-to-ground attack munitions to Saudi Arabia worth an estimated $1.29 billion. The package includes 1000 GBU-10 Paveway II Laser Guided Bombs, 2,300 BLU-117/MK-84 2000lb General Purpose (GP) Bombs, and 4,020 GBU-12 Paveway II Laser Guided Bombs. No contractor to supply the weapons has been chosen.

The Pentagon awarded CAE a $30 million order-dependent foreign military sale to Kuwait for technical training on KC-130J weapons systems.

Boeing will produce Harpoon and SLAM missiles for a variety of U.S. allies, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, at a cost of $125 million.

Maintenance to the sensor suite on Saudi Arabian F-15s will be performed by Lockheed Martin in cooperation with a local contractor. The U.S. Air Force awarded the contract for $263 million.

Odds and Ends

The State Department approved the possible sale of 600 TOW 2A radio frequency missiles and associated launchers to Morocco at a cost of $157 million.