Israel Defense Exports Doubled To $4 Billion in 2002
Since 1999, Israel's defense industries have signed over $2 billion's
worth of defense contracts each year. In 2002, a record $4 billion
was reached, due to several large-scale programs, primarily the
$700 million Turkish M-60 tank upgrading program. According to
Major General (Ret.) Amos Yaron, director general of the Ministry
of Defense, in 2003 over 800 million's worth of new contracts
were recorded, and a total of over $2 billion is anticipated by
year's end. A steady level of $3 billion is "achievable"
in the near future.
"We have unique defense products as, unfortunately, we must
deal with this field for years, on a daily basis," said Yaron.
"As a small country, the only way to match our opponent's
quantitative superiority is by having the best, most sophisticated
quality-in personnel and technology."
On the international defense market, state-of-the-art is also
an important competitive edge for winning contracts and industrial
cooperation. "Foreign nations do not need us to provide systems
what they can produce at home. They require foreign suppliers
for the most sophisticated hardware and software they can't, or
won't do themselves, because of technological or economical barriers.
Therefore, developments that have been fueled by Israel's defense
necessities are becoming attractive and thought after by our allies
as well," he noted.
Yaron specifically mentioned technological fields where Israel
is considered an unmatched technological leader: "In Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles we lead the way with the most complete, sophisticated
and matured line of products, in all types and sizes of systems.
How many countries can deploy an operational missile defense system,
from scratch to fully operational defensive system, within 10
years? In 1991, we suffered 39 hits from Iraqi Scud missiles because
we didn't have any viable defense. We entered a rapid development
program which resulted in the development, production and deployment
of an unprecedented capability-to intercept the incoming warheads
at ranges of over 60 km-which was combat ready for the 2003 war.
In the air-to-air arena, Israel is now leading with its new Python-5
missile, which is attracting exceptional interest among international
potential customers."
Brigadier General (Ret.) Yossi Ben Hannan, director of Israel's
defense export organization, SIBAT, noted that the wide variety
of products shown at Paris is only "the tip of the iceberg.
Security limitations do not allow us to show everything we develop
or operate, but we do share more classified technologies with
our closest allies."
Ben Hannan mentioned the close relations Israel is maintaining
with European governments and industries, in the development and
production of the Spike anti-tank missile that won contracts in
the Netherlands and Finland and was recently selected by Poland.
Israel also maintains very close relations India, Turkey, Romania
and the Ukraine, which are expressed in joint displays at Le Bourget.
