For weeks, it has been impossible to ignore the superlatives being heaped by the heads of Israel's defense companies on the business potential of the Paris Air Show, which will open next week and will attract some 400,000 visitors from all over the world. As they attempt to stand out among the multi-national giants and make an impression, the Israeli companies that will exhibit there will reveal everything that they are allowed to reveal: from new concepts in land warfare and innovative systems for active defense of armored vehicles, to advanced missile systems; spy and communications satellites; sophisticated radars; UAVs that do everything except make the coffee. The list is long, long enough to explain how it is that a country like Israel sells the world defense systems to the tune of $7.2 billion annually, and is up there with the leading countries in the sector, the US, Russia, France, and the UK.
A NIS 6 million pavilion
A defense power like Israel needs suitable accommodation. The Israel Export Institute rose to the occasion, and paid out generously: more than NIS 6 million has been invested in setting up the Israeli pavilion at Le Bourget. It took five weeks to construct, with 40 people working six days a week. The pavilion has an area of 1,000 square meters, and it is made of 60 tons of metal and glass.
Most of the attention this year will be on the Iron Dome rocket interceptor system, and the Trophy system for intercepting anti-tank missiles, both developed by Rafael. Iron Dome, which will shortly be offered for export, will be exhibited bearing the halo of success from its interception of a Grad rocket fired from Gaza just days after it was deployed in the south of Israel. Alongside it will be exhibited a missile interception still under development, Magic Wand (also known as David's Sling). According Ministry of Defense director general Udi Shani, "Exhibiting the systems, after the impressive success of Iron Dome, represents potential for another growth engine for Israeli defense exports."
Elbit seizes territory
Public company Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT) also has something new to offer at the show. It intends to unveil an innovative concept for seizing territory, enabling a military force to control an area remotely, using a package of products from the company. A multimedia presentation produced for the show will illustrate the systems' capabilities through an imaginary scenario in which special forces are sent on a dangerous rescue operation in the heart of an urban area, involving a landing via assault helicopter.
Apart from the impressive presentation, Elbit will unveil for the first time, in full size, its advanced C-Music pod carried in the hold of a civilian aircraft and designed to protect it from shoulder-launched missiles. The system, the first of its kind in the world, is based on a laser that disrupts the missile's flight. Aircraft of Israeli airlines are due to be equipped with the system.
Elbit will also exhibit its Targo pilot's helmet, which is mainly used for training, and is accompanies the mission from planning through to debriefing.
IAI goes it alone
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will exhibit its products in its own pavilion, where it will set up a "missile farm" in which it will display the launch battery of its Barak-8 air defense system, together with the missile itself, as well as the ground-to-ground missile interceptors Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, the latter still in development. Alongside them will be its Jumper and Lora artillery missiles.
IAI will also unveil its MLGB laser-guided bomb, which is adaptable to various types of aircraft, and homes onto its target using laser or GPS. IAI says that the weapon's high accuracy and its lightweight warhead make it suitable for strikes in populated areas, diminishing the risk to civilians and nearby structures.
IMI's rocket
Israel Military Industries (IMI) will not have its own pavilion, but will open a deals room attended by CEO Avi Felder, and will exhibit some of its systems for export in the Israel pavilion, among them the Refaim urban warfare system, and the Delilah air-to-ground missile, and IMI's rocket trajectory correction system, which facilitates accurate strikes on targets deep n enemy territory and the destruction of rocket launchers, artillery, and radar installations. These two systems have been in use with the IDF for several years, and proved their effectiveness in the Second Lebanon War, when they made possible accurate hits on Hizbullah targets and on trucks transporting weapons for it in South Lebanon.
Israel Export Institute CEO Avi Hefetz says that 15 Israeli defense companies will exhibit over the six days of the Paris Air Show. "The Israel Export Institute will place its emphasis on the less well known companies, to help them arrange focused business meetings, because the big companies are already known to the market. However, deals do not come to fruition at one exhibition, large as it might be. It takes a long time before a deal is finalized, but an exhibition like this is an excellent opportunity for sowing the seeds of future deals."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 16, 2011
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