Israel Aerospace sells $1.1 bln arms to Asian nation

[Ambassador]

It would not be Russia but Iran. Russia has no territorial disputes with any of the Caspian countries.

I think Israel would have been delighted to announce that it has just sold $1.6 billion of weapons to a rival of Iran.

[AttilaA]

It's customer's request to remain anonymous.

[twinblade]

India reportedly has three (not two) Green Pine radars.

Thanks for correction

And what exactly is US tech in the Green pine? Considering the word "amount" I assume you know what you are talking about?

Oh no sir, I am just a google warrior . IIRC there was considerable opposition to sale of green pine and phalcon to India on those grounds.

Not the first deal. Next guess?

Well not too many countries left in Asia who can use Green Pine for BMD other than Japan, India, China, Taiwan, SoKorea and Singapore.

[AttilaA]

It's a Central Asian - Caspian country, at least according to this.

According to Barbara Opall-Rome from DefenseNews.com's latest issue, the undisclosed customer is a Central Asian country.

[thounaojamtom]

Thanks for correction



Oh no sir, I am just a google warrior . IIRC there was considerable opposition to sale of green pine and phalcon to India on those grounds.


Well not too many countries left in Asia who can use Green Pine for BMD other than Japan, India, China, Taiwan, SoKorea and Singapore.

How Twinbalde ?

[Ambassador]

How Twinbalde ?

Israel has previously sold defence equipment to Asia-Pacific countries including Australia, China, India, Singapore and South Korea, although its business with Beijing has fallen off in the past decade owing to pressure from the USA.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...stomer-366736/

Unlikely it's going to be China now.

If this $1.1-1.6 billion sale is indeed for China it's going to jeopardize relationship with virtually all countries on that list.

[thounaojamtom]

Unlikely it's going to be China now.

If this $1.1-1.6 billion sale is indeed for China it's going to jeopardize relationship with virtually all countries on that list.

Agreed, last time they wanted to buy Phalcon however it was turn down due to Uncle Sam Pressure, and i reckon now that Israeli and India or ROK have a more mature relationship, Israeli won't do that will harm relationship.

[Shadowstorm]

Green pine radar for BMD and sea to sea missiles (possibly Gabriel) means the country must be under a constant thread of ballistic missiles, should possibly be on good relations with US (considering the amount of US tech in green pine), must have a decent C3I infrastructure suitable for green pine, and must be expecting a naval battle.

My revised list of possible nations (ignoring the first time customer clause which won't fit anyone)
1.India
Green Pine : Already purchased two, has been working on domestic Swordfish radar rumoured to be uprated version of Green Pine, but no one has seen anything about it being close to testing, while BMD is supposed to go online by 2015. The last green pine deal was met with US opposition but the deal was rushed before the US could put a stopper in it. Is the first-time customer clause a red herring ?
Gabriel : India already uses Gabriel, repeat order likely.
UAV's : More Herons till Rustom comes online ?
2.South Korea :
Green Pine : Has considered purchase of Green Pine for a while, could be integrated in domestic BMD.
Gabriel : First order (?)
UAV's : Something beyond Harpy drones and Searchers ?
3. Taiwan
Green Pine : Been working on a BMD for a while. Might find it handy.
Gabriel: Repeat orders.
UAV's: ?

I didn't know India had Gabriel AshM's. Taiwan is beefing up their BMD shield, so its possible that they will snatch up some Green Pine radars. UAV's would be good for the Taiwanese military forces definitely the long-range and longer loiter UAV's which would boost their surveillance and recon forces since some of their aircraft are obsolete or facing shortages. Even though Taiwan has bought and made the Gabriel AShM under license as the Hsiung Feng I, but Taiwan has been boosting their indigenous made HF-II and HF-III AShM's. So, I don't know why they would order the Gabriel if making their own unless they want to boost some sectors around Taiwan.

[Ren789]

Another clue which could help identifying the country among the 2 or 3 Central Asian nation left, is the apparent competition, prior to the win of IAI, between European, Israeli and American companies. US and EU defense firms tend to avoid Azerbaijan, maybe over the conflict with Armenia. Turkmenistan is relatively close off. Only Kazakhstan meets this criteria.

The work will be performed over the next four years, with sources saying that IAI beat competition from a number of European and US companies.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...stomer-366736/

[Ren789]

It's (semi) official, according to Israeli defense officials quoted by AP, the mysterious Asian country is :

... Drum rolls ...

Israel signs deal to provide Azerbaijan with $1.6 billion in military equipment

By Associated Press, Updated: Sunday, February 26, 11:31 AM

JERUSALEM — Israeli defense officials say state-run Israel Aerospace Industries will sell $1.6 billion in drones and anti-aircraft and missile defense systems to Azerbaijan.

The deal will bring sophisticated Israeli technology to the doorstep of archenemy Iran. Tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan have been rising because of close Azeri ties with Israel.

The Israeli defense officials spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity because they were not at liberty to discuss defense deals.
Israel accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.

Earlier this month, Iran demanded that Azerbaijan prevent Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency from using Azeri territory to launch operations against Iran.
Israel says it has foiled Iranian-sponsored attacks against Israeli targets in Azerbaijan.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...QbR_story.html

[Camera]

So you were the one to find the right answer:

Another clue which could help identifying the country among the 2 or 3 Central Asian nation left, is the apparent competition, prior to the win of IAI, between European, Israeli and American companies. US and EU defense firms tend to avoid Azerbaijan, maybe over the conflict with Armenia. Turkmenistan is relatively close off. Only Kazakhstan meets this criteria.

BTW, in an article in Hebrew, Haaretz says IAI is about to sign a $1B deal with Angola.

[AttilaA]

Thank you our Israeli allies.

US and Europe would never provide Azerbaijan with any sort of high-tech equipment, even if it would be meant against crazy leadership of Iran.

From nature of this deal can be seen that this is largely meant against Iran.

[tanks_alot]

BTW, in an article in Hebrew, Haaretz says IAI is about to sign a $1B deal with Angola.

Interesting in this context:

LISBON (*******) - Angolan state oil company Sonangol has pulled out of a $7.5 billion natural gas project in Iran and informed the Iranian government it can no longer operate there because of sanctions, a senior company official said on Friday.
"We are out of Iran," Mateus Morais de Brito, a member of the company's executive board, said at a news conference in Luanda.
"Nowadays it has become unsustainable for us to develop technical and operational activities in Iran due to this matter of the sanctions," Mateus Morais de Brito, a member of the company's executive board, said at a news conference in Luanda.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/angolas-son...132551394.html

[JGXL836]

Very interesting!

[AttilaA]

Israeli experts will soon travel to Azerbaijan to train Azerbaijani armed forces personal on new systems that will be delivered.

http://izrus.co.il/dvuhstoronka/arti...#ixzz1nUDUyTWD