by Malkah Fleisher, INN (originally published in summer of ’09)
A scandal has arisen out of the United States military establishment after Pentagon pressure on Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to withdraw from a massive aircraft tender for the Indian Air Force leaves competing American aerospace companies in prime position to win it.
On the table: a $12 billion Indian Ministry of Defense tender for 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) for the Indian Air Force.
In a bid to win the tender, IAI was offered a partnership with Sweden’s Saab AB to jointly develop an advanced model of the JAS-39 Gripen jet fighter. Israel was to build the electronic systems for the craft, including communications, electronic warfare and radar systems.
The Pentagon contacted Israel’s Ministry of Defense, ordering them to force IAI out of contention, citing concerns that Israel would integrate American technology into the fighter jets.
However, two of the remaining four bidders are American companies, leaving Israeli officials speculating that the actual reason for the demand was America’s interest in winning the bid without having to compete by lowering prices, according to Israeli officials quoted in Israeli media
Lockheed Martin’s F-16 and Boeing’s F-18 Hornet are still in the running, as well as Russia’s MiG-35 and the UK’s BAE Eurofighter.
The United States has a history of intervening to thwart Israeli military contracts, to America’s benefit. Last summer, Israel’s defense establishment backed down from a $500 million Turkish tank tender in order not to compete with the Americans.
In 2006, the IAI lost a $2 billion South Korean Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) tender after the US imposed technological and commercial restrictions, which prevented Israel from meeting the terms of the tender.
In 2003, the US opposed a $1 billion AWACS contract between Israel and India, citing India’s stance against the US war in Iraq. The US offered Israel $1 billion in US military goods to back down from the agreement. However, Israeli officials speculated that the US may have opposed the deal for commercial reasons.
(IsraelNationalNews.com)
Not so fast on the development of the F-35’s
Noemie, you got that right. Right now this administration is mistreating our only true and trusted friend and ally in the ME.
Yamit (Uncle Nahum) and Ted have been doing their very best to educate those liberal Jew hating Jews.
I am still in favor of a massive PR program in the US to bring the truth to Americans, the problems Israelis deals with from her neighbors.
Israel would be America’s greatest asset.
Unfortunately Obama (Dumbo ears) anti-Semite is not a friend of Israel.
I think that America needs Israel as much or even more than Israel needs America. Canada has replaced America as one of its best allies,although they don’t have the capabilities to Veto. Until Obama the Muslim is gone, Israel will have to buckle down and prolong all negotiations until Obama the Muslim is replaced in the White House which I think should be in 2012.
I also think that someone very knowledgeable like Yamit and Ted have to comfront all those liberal Jew hating Jews and find a way to show them the error of their ways.
I have not heard much about Soros from you guys (or maybe I missed it).
I am not looking for a strategic replacement for America. I still look to have normal and cordial relations with America but only on a different plane. That means asking for financial and military aid. We would pay for anything we get from America like from anyone else but then I would purchase only the minimum from the States nothing strategic. The only thing the Russians produce that has a global market for besides natural resource commodities is weapons. They may be not as good as American weapons but they are good enough for warring against our enemies and at a quarter the price. We can upgrade their systems and platforms to out anything the Americans can produce. Friends? Nobody is friends with anyone else it’s all interests. The Russians want our money and our technological know-how and we want critical vetoes in UN and a replacement for what we get today from America. Israel has no leverage with the Russians because we don’t buy from them and the Arabs and Iranians do. We can level somewhat the playing field with Russia as one of our major suppliers along with America and anyone else willing to sell us their stuff. What we need and can’t purchase we make ourselves.
The idea is political and economic independence detached from American diktat and pressure? It’s not worth it. Israel today is not the Israel of the 70’s and 80’s.
Things with the Soetoro administration are going completely out of hand and we must stop engaging that people. After the US retakes control of its senses we can get back.
I know there are critical parts we need but many can be made here or bought elsewhere.
What is more. The Russian-Indian made Sukhoi 30 MX…? is a superb aircraft and the time has come to at least try a few.
Bidding must be completely open and blackmail harshly turned down.
vhardman says:
Now why would we want them coming to the negotiating table?
Your question invokes many presumptions and I would guess from here all of them wrong.
Can you say “Avro Arrow”?
time for positive action !!!!!!!1
GO AND ARREST ABBAS AND THE TEAM AND HOLD THEM AS ARAFAT WAS HELD UNTIL THEY SIT AROUND THE NEGOTIATING TABLE !
Yamit. I am not so sure Israel aligning with Russia would be such a wise idea. Here in Canada we get stiffed by the U.S. ALL THE TIME.
Exactly. The explanation given to us on our tour (of Israel) was that it wasn’t economical for Israel to produce (Kfir) aircraft for itself because of the low quantities involved.
Really?
Surely it would be better not to talk at all about the reasons for Israel’s backing out of the Kfir situation, than to expect us to swallow that guff.
<Be very carefull Israel,,America has been welshing out on deals as way back as their broken treaties of peace with the American Indians who initially trusted them ..They have had a lot of practice and are very good at trickery at this level ..Remember the American Indian quote ….White man [ The American Government ] talk with forked tongue …Nothing has changed ..Be very carefull Israel ….May GOD be with you .
Right-wing Knesset members demand that Netanyahu fulfill promises he made to them that West Bank building will not be frozen again.
“Red lines must be strengthened, not erased. We are at the beginning of difficult negotiations, during which there will be a lot of pressure on us to cross red lines that must not be crossed.”
“We must not accept a new norm under which we will be expected to pay for diplomatic support or military aid that we have received up until now only by virtue of the alliance [with the United States].
It seems that those additional 20 F-35’s now on offer is a bribe to Israel for dropping out of the Indian Tender. Israel should end-run the American diktat by teaming with the Russians to make sure the Americans have no chance. Our avionics would certainly clinch the deal for the Russians.
Israels long term survival depends upon Israel divesting from America.
America will always protect her home grown Industries against any foreign competition. As long as Israel remains willingly a Vassal nation to America we have no future.
Russia would be a more amiable master than is the US. They have never forced their clients to retreat or stabbed them in the back like the Americans do and not just to Israel.
Do not look to Congress for help over these issues. They will always support American interests over ours.
American Imperialism is economic as opposed to traditional territorial Imperialism.