Israel
Washington and Jerusalem signed a long-awaited Memorandum of Understanding, promising $38 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel over 10 years, beginning in fiscal 2018. Members of Congress criticized parts of the executive agreement for hijacking the appropriations process and “phasing out support to Israeli defense industries.”
The Jewish state formally opened a diplomatic mission at NATO headquarters in Brussels on September 19. Israel’s ambassador to the European Union, Aharon Leshno-Yaar, is now credentialed to the mutual defense organization, enabling his staff of diplomats and attaches to have “upgraded access to exercises, events and alliance-related procurement programs,” according to Defense News.
The U.S. Air Force has delivered eight of 10 excess F-15Ds to Israel, according to fact sheet released by the White House. The delivery of the planes did not constitute a foreign military sale, reported FlightGlobal.
Engineers received their first transmission from Ofek-11, an Israeli surveillance satellite launched into orbit earlier this month. A joint Israel Defense Ministry and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) statement said that ground stations had received images from the satellite.
Israeli Military Technology
India and Israel successfully conducted the second joint test of a surface-to-air missile from a mobile launcher. India’s Research Center Imarat (RCI) and Israel’s Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) developed the yet-to-be-named medium-range missile, a smaller version of the Barak-8.
Elbit unveiled Spectro XR, a new “ultra-long-range, day/night, multi-spectral electro-optical” sensor for airborne platforms. The firm has signed a contract to supply the system to an unnamed Asian country $90 million.
Foreign Military Sales
Elbit will manufacture 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm mortar weapon systems as part of a five-year, $103 million contract for the U.S. Army.
Kazakhstan may begin assembly of Skylark and Hermes UAVS as part of a pending agreement between the country’s state-owned defense firm, Kazakhstan Engineering, and Elbit. As part of the export agreement, the central Asian country could build a facility to assemble five to 10 drones a year by the end of 2017.
Regional Developments
France delivered its second Mistral amphibious assault ship to Egypt earlier this month. The versatile new ship can carry other vessels and tanks, and can act as a command center for the Egyptian fleet.
