TEL AVIV -- Israel has drafted a delivery schedule for the first export of unmanned aerial vehicles to Russia.Officials said the first Israeli tactical UAVs would be delivered to the Russian military in late 2009. They said the delivery would include the Searcher Mk-2 medium-range UAV as well as miniature I-View and Bird Eye-400 platforms.
Just great, Barry."There has been an agreement to accelerate the project," an official said.
In April 2009, Israel and Russia signed a $50 million deal for the delivery of UAVs by the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries. This would mark the first Israeli military sale to Russia.
Officials said Russian Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin was expected to visit IAI in June to examine UAV production lines. They said Popovkin would also be briefed on IAI's Heron medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV, sold to India and Turkey.
The decision to accelerate the UAV project was reported in wake of Russia's decision to halt the MiG-31E fighter-jet project for Syria. Officials said Israel's Defense Ministry was encouraged by the Kremlin's decision to suspend the $500 million deal, and then pressed for an expanded military relationship with Moscow.
"The Russian move bolstered our confidence that we could have a trustworthy relationship with Moscow," the official said.
These developments and what they PORTEND are not in america's best interests.
We wonder if you have a real clue