Einomies1
Respected Leader
Finland shopping for "battle-tested" Israeli weaponry
Bruno Jäntti and Jimmy Johnson, The Electronic Intifada, 18 January 2011
Finland's Ministry of Defense has narrowed the field in its competition to provide the Finnish army with mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Of the five remaining bidders, four are Israeli firms with deep ties to the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Syrian Golan Heights. In addition, three of the models offered are or have been in active recent use in Israeli military operations in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and south Lebanon. The Finnish army already employs a UAV produced by Israel Aerospace Industries, as well as other "battle-tested" Israeli weapons including anti-armor missiles, artillery munitions, avionics and more.
The aviation news website Flight Global recently reported that the remaining models were the pan-European consortium EADS' DRAC model, and four models from Israeli manufacturers: BlueBird's Spylite, Elbit Systems' Skylark, the Israel Aerospace Industries Bird-Eye 650 and Aeronautics Defense Systems' Orbiter. The article noted that the Finnish army "plans to acquire 30-45 UAV systems that will include between 120 and 176 air vehicles, with the deal to have a value of around $25 million" ("Five bidders to contest Finnish UAV deal," 1 December 2010).
Mini UAVs have become key parts of modern infantry operations. According to the Aeronautics Defense Systems' Orbiter brochure, "Designed for use in military and homeland security missions, the system presents the ultimate solution for 'Over the Hill' reconnaissance, low intensity conflicts and urban warfare operations" -- a description fitting most Israeli military activity in the occupied territories ("Aeronautics Defense Systems: 2010 Orbiter brochure" [PDF]). The lightweight and compact designs of the systems allows for their use in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in short and medium distance engagements such as those carried out by the Israeli military during the 2008-09 assault on Gaza, dubbed Operation Cast Lead.
The mini UAV bid is expected to be narrowed to two finalists in February 2011 with a contract to be awarded in April.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11735.shtml
Ei ehkä luotettavin sivusto....
Bruno Jäntti and Jimmy Johnson, The Electronic Intifada, 18 January 2011
Finland's Ministry of Defense has narrowed the field in its competition to provide the Finnish army with mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Of the five remaining bidders, four are Israeli firms with deep ties to the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Syrian Golan Heights. In addition, three of the models offered are or have been in active recent use in Israeli military operations in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and south Lebanon. The Finnish army already employs a UAV produced by Israel Aerospace Industries, as well as other "battle-tested" Israeli weapons including anti-armor missiles, artillery munitions, avionics and more.
The aviation news website Flight Global recently reported that the remaining models were the pan-European consortium EADS' DRAC model, and four models from Israeli manufacturers: BlueBird's Spylite, Elbit Systems' Skylark, the Israel Aerospace Industries Bird-Eye 650 and Aeronautics Defense Systems' Orbiter. The article noted that the Finnish army "plans to acquire 30-45 UAV systems that will include between 120 and 176 air vehicles, with the deal to have a value of around $25 million" ("Five bidders to contest Finnish UAV deal," 1 December 2010).
Mini UAVs have become key parts of modern infantry operations. According to the Aeronautics Defense Systems' Orbiter brochure, "Designed for use in military and homeland security missions, the system presents the ultimate solution for 'Over the Hill' reconnaissance, low intensity conflicts and urban warfare operations" -- a description fitting most Israeli military activity in the occupied territories ("Aeronautics Defense Systems: 2010 Orbiter brochure" [PDF]). The lightweight and compact designs of the systems allows for their use in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in short and medium distance engagements such as those carried out by the Israeli military during the 2008-09 assault on Gaza, dubbed Operation Cast Lead.
The mini UAV bid is expected to be narrowed to two finalists in February 2011 with a contract to be awarded in April.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11735.shtml
Ei ehkä luotettavin sivusto....
