The Israeli military authorized the launch of a venture to build a military communications satellite intended to join all three branches and to conduct joint operations far from the national boundaries.
The $390-million project, approved in principle last September, paves the way for a feasibility study to ensure that manufacturer’s can meet the military’s stipulations and specifications. The study will span a number of weeks, after which time the Defense Ministry will decide whether or not production should begin.
Israel’s Air Force is expected to head the project. The Air Force is also currently examining a proposal for a satellite that will offer commercial services in a cost-effective manner.
Early last year, Space and Technology Digest reported that Israel’s Air Force was planning to launch a dedicated military telecommunication satellite by 2006. The military satellite program was ranked as the first order of business for the Air Force’s recently created Space Branch. Israel Aircraft Industries and an unnamed U.S. company would jointly produce the satellite.
Sale to India
Israel’s leading daily, Yediot Ahronot, reported that the U.S. Administration is attempting to halt Israel’s sale of the Arrow anti-missile system to India.
An anonymous source conveyed that Israel was notified of the demand last week, in light of the current situation between India and Pakistan.
“Israel appears to be listening," the source conveyed, adding, "possible Israeli deals with India are at issue. We said the timing is inappropriate to sell arms to either side." According to the source, selling the system could violate the Missile Technology Control Regime, a voluntary arrangement among 27 countries comprising agreed export policies applied to a common list of controlled items.
Israeli officials contend that the specifications of the Arrow system - the size of its payload and its range - are much smaller than what is regulated by MTCR, and therefore it should be free to sell it. Further, it notes that the system is defensive in nature, a claim the American side disputes. (Albawaba.com)
