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Date Posted: 13-Sep-2010


Jane's Defence Weekly

Analysis: Russo-Israeli industrial relations: up in the air?

A military co-operation agreement signed by Russia and Israel may provide a spring board to greater collaboration. There are obstacles to overcome, however, writes Guy Anderson

Russia and Israel signed a long-term military co-operation agreement on 6 September that will - in the words of Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov - provide a "fresh impetus to bilateral relations".

The accord was inked in Moscow during a visit by Serdyukov's Israeli counterpart, former prime minister Ehud Barak.

Details of the content of the accord has proved elusive, given that few details were made public.

Jane's notes that the purchase of 36 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), valued at around USD100 million, was discussed, pointing to a deal that would build on previous UAV sale accords. In addition, Russian news information service ITAR-TASS reported that the agreement was a framework document spelling out the general direction of future collaboration. ITAR-TASS quoted a Russian defence ministry spokesman who described it as a foundation stone, creating a legal framework for future co-operation of a more specific nature.

It is clear that such a 'stem' accord does point to expectations of additional agreements further down the line. Barak - in comments also relayed by ITAR-TASS - raised the issue of anti-terrorism efforts, incorporating, significantly, the use of unmanned aerial systems (UASs).

Greater military technical co-operation is plausible, potentially extending existing efforts towards the production of Israeli equipment under licence in Russia or aping Moscow's collaborative efforts with countries such as France and Italy in export markets.

In the wake of the latest accord, it is worth reflecting on current efforts between Israel and Russia, the respective rationales that led to the 6 September signing and the potential barriers to greater activity.

Activity so far
It emerged in June 2009 that Russia was preparing to acquire 12 UAVs from Israel, with the goal of studying the technology to produce domestic drones in the future. The USD53 million acquisition covered I-View MK 150 close-range tactical UAVs and Searcher II long-endurance multirole UAVs, both manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It was the first such acquisition of Israeli technology of this kind by Russia. Moscow stated at the time that it would "take their [knowledge] and put it to practical use".

In April this year it was announced that IAI and Russian state technologies conglomerate Rostekhnologii were preparing to establish a USD300 million joint venture (JV) in the UAV arena. Russia, Jane's reported at the time, expressed an interest in the indigenous production of some of the more advanced IAI platforms: specifically the Heron medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) and Heron TP high-altitude long endurance (HALE) UAV.

Discussions appeared to have run into difficulties by June. Jane's reported that talks concerning a JV had been put on hold due to concerns about the transfer of sensitive technology to Moscow. The difficulties say much about the drivers of Israeli-Russian collaborative activity, however.

Israeli rationale
Israel's moves towards closer relations with Russia appear in part to be an effort to lever Moscow away from its existing commitments in the Middle East. Russia has been a major supplier of materiel to Iran (and has previously faced US sanctions as a result) and the long-running dispute over Moscow selling the S-300PMU1 missile and air-defence system to Tehran is a case in point. The agreement to sell the S-300PMU1 - also known as the SA-20 'Gargoyle' - was signed in 2007, but had been under discussion for two years before. Currently on hold, both Israel and the US lobbied hard against the deal.

The sale of the system would be significant in that it would potentially provide Tehran with the capability to protect nuclear installations from possible air strikes. It is reasonable, therefore, to argue that Israel viewed UAV sales and joint military technical activity as a means of bringing influence to bear on Moscow.

Paradoxically, it is also Russia's penetration of the Middle Eastern defence market - and its current aspirations - that appear to have curbed Israeli enthusiasm for joint activity in the UAS sector. Jane's notes concerns about the risk that a transfer of sensitive technologies to Moscow could ultimately lead to such systems finding their way to other powers in the Middle East.

While the UAV systems Israel agreed to sell to Moscow in 2009 were older platforms, which incorporated technology that was unlikely to pose a significant threat, Russia's interest in the strategically important Heron systems was viewed as another matter entirely.

Russia, for its part, has looked to increase sales to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Syria (it previously agreed to supply the SSC-X-5 Bastion radar-guided anti-ship missile to Damascus) under a two-pronged strategy to offset the anticipated decline in sales to its historically core markets, such as India and China, and to establish stronger ties with major energy markets.

Russian rationale
Russia's weakness in the UAV domain was exposed during its conflict with Georgia in 2008. Moscow subsequently launched a range of programmes to address this shortfall, although it was clear that such an approach would be unlikely to yield short-term gains.

Instead, Russia appeared to pursue a strategy of partnership that was comparable to its relations with Italy and France. Moscow - which has made no secret of its technology shortfall following the research and development (R&D) spending decline of the 1990s - has formed strategic partnerships and JVs with advanced materiel-producing nations in order to overcome its technology deficit.

In the case of France, co-operative R&Dprogrammes have been set up between Russian state companies and DCNS, Thales and Safran. It is notable that Russia sought to overcome its shortcomings in the international market place (Russia warned in 2009 that it risked "stooping to the level of an iron-supplier") by equipping Russian air platforms with advanced French avionics. About half of Sukhoi-manufactured combat aircraft for the global market, for example, are equipped with Thales avionics.

It seems plausible, therefore, for Russia to pursue such a model in the UAV arena through a similar partnership with Israel.


Guy Anderson is Jane's Defence Industry Editor, based in London


И там в том же номере еще такая статейка про это же есть:


Date Posted: 10-Sep-2010

Jane's Defence Weekly

Israel mulls UAV sale to Russia after historic pact

Yaakov Katz JDW Correspondent
Tel Aviv


Israel and Russia signed a military co-operation agreement on 6 September that could precipitate the sale of Israeli-made drones to the Russian military.
The agreement was signed in Moscow by Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and his Russian counterpart, Anatoly Serdyukov, in a historic first visit by an Israeli defence minister to Russia.
Some 50 Russian pilots are undergoing training at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in Tel Aviv for future operation of the I-View Mk 150 close-range tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the Searcher II long-endurance multirole UAV, both purchased by Russia in 2009.
Moscow is hoping to purchase additional UAVs from the state-owned company, in line with a requirement issued in the aftermath of the 2008 conflict with Georgia over South Ossetia. At the time, Tbilisi operated Elbit Systems' Hermes 450 medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs and had also received significant training and technical support from Israeli personnel.
Russia is interested in some of Israel's more advanced UAVs in the IAI fleet, including the Heron MALE and Heron TP high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAVs, but some Israeli defence officials are concerned over the possible transfer of the technology to Iran and Syria.
During their talks in Moscow, Barak and Serdyukov discussed the possible sale of 36 new drones to Russia for USD100 million. Israeli defence officials told Jane's that the deal would need to be reviewed by the Ministry of Defence and then taken to the security Cabinet for final approval.
"We will not compromise our security by transferring UAVs and payloads that could fall into the hands of a third country," one official said, adding that before the Cabinet discusses the deal. Israel will need to receive permission to move forward from the United States: Israel's closest ally and main weapons supplier.
The two defence ministers agreed to also renew negotiations over the establishment of a joint venture between IAI and Russian conglomerate Rostekhnologii to manufacture UAVs in Russia in a deal worth an estimated USD300 million.
Barak also met with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and raised Israeli concerns regarding the planned delivery of advanced anti-ship missiles (ASMs) to Syria as well as Iran's continued efforts to obtain the advanced S-300 air defence system.
Russia has agreed to supply Syria with SSC-X-5 Bastion radar-guided ASMs: shore-based versions of the Mach 2-capable Yakhont that would pose a serious threat to Israel Navy ships if shared by Damascus with the Lebanese guerrilla movement Hizbullah.



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