Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Jerusalem last week to discuss Russia’s role in the ongoing the war in Syria. Prime Minister Netanyahu and other defense officials have repeatedly warned of “red lines” that would lead military interventions in Syria, including the transfer of advanced weapons from Iran to Hezbollah and the Iranian presence on Israel’s northern border. According to reports, Israeli leaders asked for Russia to enforce a 25-mile buffer zone between militant groups the Israeli border, but Moscow thought the request was unrealistic, suggesting only three miles.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and South Korean firm Hankuk Carbon began a joint venture to produce military and civilian drones in the Asian nation. The partnership will focus on creating vehicles with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, according to a press release.
After three months of delay due to an ongoing corruption investigation, Germany and Israel plan to sign a $1.7 billion deal to buy three Dolphin-class submarines from ThyssenKrupp. The submersibles will be able to carry nuclear weapons.
Israeli Military Technology
The Israeli Ministry of Defense bought 1,000 SPIKE LR 2s missiles from Rafael. The multiplatform electro-optical precision-guided missile can be fired from ground vehicles, helicopters, or ships at distances up to six miles.
IAI unveiled the Anti-Magnetic Mine Actuating system (AMMAD MK II) at a defense conference in Washington DC. The AMMAD MK II will consist of a device that will generate a magnetic field in front of a vehicle to activate a mine’s charge and can complement that with other mechanical methods of mine removal.
Foreign Military Sales
Rafael entered into a partnership with company Bisalloy Steels, enabling Australian firm to access the Israeli company’s global supply chain. Jane’s reports the agreement will also position Rafael to “supply its Spike LR II anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as part of the Land 400 Phase 2 program.”
IAI will equip 16 search and rescue planes Canada recently acquired with ELM-2022 radar systems. The cost of the contract was not disclosed.
An undisclosed country awarded IAI a contract to supply Ku-band Satellite communications equipment for ground stations and heavy lift helicopters.
Haaretz reported that a Myanmar military Facebook account appears to show delivery of the Israeli-made Super-Dvora MK III patrol boat. The international community has restricted arms sales to Myanmar’s military due to its operations targeting the country’s Rohingya Muslim minority. In response, the Israel’s Foreign Ministry saying, the policy of “supervising Israel’s defense exports is reviewed regularly according to various criteria, including the human rights situation in the target country…”
The Indian government awarded a $1 billion tender to Raytheon, beating out IAI to provide two new ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) aircraft to the country.
