Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. and Australian company Varley have signed an industrial cooperation agreement that includes the establishment of joint production lines in Australia for Rafael's Spike anti-tank missiles. Other Rafael products will also be produced in Australia for use by the Australian army. Defense market sources believe that cooperation between the two companies will amount to tens of millions of dollars.
The agreement was signed today in the framework of launching Var, a company jointly owned by Rafael and Varley. During the launch at the Australian parliament, Australian Minister of Defense Marise Payne and Minister for Defense Industry Christopher Pyne announced that Rafael had won the tender held by the Australian Ministry of Defense and would supply Australia with 5G Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles.
Rafael said today that the missiles to be delivered to Australia would be launched from special launchers installed on Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles made by Rheinmetall. The missiles themselves will be produced by Var.
The founding of the joint company reflects Rafael's strategy of expanding its activity in global markets and forming extensive business ties with the Australian Ministry of Defense.
In addition to the Spike missiles to be manufactured in Australia, Rafael is also offering its leading systems, including the Trophy system for protection of tanks and armored personnel carriers, the Iron Dome rocket and missile interception system, and its anti-torpedo system for protection of vessels.
Rafael said today that Var would initially have 70 employees, and might hire hundreds more when its business expands.
The Spike missile is regarded as the most advanced of its kind in the world. The model to be supplied to the Australian army is designed for targets at a range of up to 5.5 kilometers when launched from land and for targets at a range of up to 10 kilometers when launched from a combat helicopter. The missile is designed to hit and destroy a broad range of targets. "The new missile solves challenges of the modern battlefield. Its development is the result of Rafael's extensive experience with different types of missiles," said Rafael CEO Maj. Gen. (res.) Yoav Har-Even.
Commenting on Rafael's triumph in the tender, Payne said, "These missiles are the best guided anti-tank missiles in the world for Boxer vehicles. They will provide the ranges and deadliness required to fight and win on the battlefield."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 22, 2018
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