Elbit Systems Ltd., an international defense technologies company based in Haifa, announced that it has signed a $7 million deal with American manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. An Elbit subsidiary will be supplying Lockheed Martin with the Head-Up Displays equipment for its F-16I aircraft, which are ultimately sold to the Israeli Air Force. The latest contract is for a four year period; however, as Elbit is involved in other aspects of the Lockheed manufacture of F-16?s for Israel and other countries, the company expects to be called upon for a total of $140 million of defense equipment.
In related news, Israel is on the verge of completing the sale of three Phalcon early-warning spy aircraft to India. The deal is said to be worth approximately $1 billion and should be concluded within three months, according to an Israeli Defense Ministry source quoted in Defense News. The sale to India is expected to further inflame relations with China, as the Phalcon, apparently containing sensitive US military technology, is the aircraft that Israel was on the verge of selling to China in July of 2000 until intense pressure from the US forced the cancellation of the sale. The cancelled sale has led to an unresolved dispute between Israel and China regarding contract violation and international obligations, with one Phalcon aircraft sitting in a hangar in Israel.
Even India was, until the election of President George Bush, a state to which Israel was asked to avoid making major defense sales following India?s 1998 nuclear tests. However, even though the US ultimately withdrew its objections, Israel initially refrained from pursuing the sale, not wanting to be seen as threatening China in its quest for greater regional influence. Yet, more than that, Israel wanted to preserve a measure of ?credibility as a reliable supplier of defense systems on the world market,? a senior Ministry official was quoted as saying. At the same time, Defense News reports that ?contrary to widespread belief among [Defense and Foreign] Ministry officials here, the Chinese diplomat said Israel's pending Phalcon deal with India should not adversely affect Israeli-Sino relations.? The magazine quotes a Chinese diplomat as saying, ?Israel does not regard China as an enemy. So why should we interfere?"
In related news, Israel is on the verge of completing the sale of three Phalcon early-warning spy aircraft to India. The deal is said to be worth approximately $1 billion and should be concluded within three months, according to an Israeli Defense Ministry source quoted in Defense News. The sale to India is expected to further inflame relations with China, as the Phalcon, apparently containing sensitive US military technology, is the aircraft that Israel was on the verge of selling to China in July of 2000 until intense pressure from the US forced the cancellation of the sale. The cancelled sale has led to an unresolved dispute between Israel and China regarding contract violation and international obligations, with one Phalcon aircraft sitting in a hangar in Israel.
Even India was, until the election of President George Bush, a state to which Israel was asked to avoid making major defense sales following India?s 1998 nuclear tests. However, even though the US ultimately withdrew its objections, Israel initially refrained from pursuing the sale, not wanting to be seen as threatening China in its quest for greater regional influence. Yet, more than that, Israel wanted to preserve a measure of ?credibility as a reliable supplier of defense systems on the world market,? a senior Ministry official was quoted as saying. At the same time, Defense News reports that ?contrary to widespread belief among [Defense and Foreign] Ministry officials here, the Chinese diplomat said Israel's pending Phalcon deal with India should not adversely affect Israeli-Sino relations.? The magazine quotes a Chinese diplomat as saying, ?Israel does not regard China as an enemy. So why should we interfere?"