Page 34 - SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2024 - INSIGHT

SPEARING

AHEAD

Israel Aerospace Industries

(IAI) is working to increase

cooperation with Southeast

Asian nations

By JAY MENON

Southeast Asia continues to sought-after Israeli-made items in installation on its Formidable-class
present many opportunities for the region. frigate fleet, which includes six
Israel with growing interest in its ships. According to a MINDEF offi-
advanced innovation, technological Late last year, IAI had signed a cial, the Formidable-class Frigates
capabilities and defence systems. contract with Korea Aerospace are undergoing a mid-life upgrade
Besides Singapore, China, Japan, Industries (KAI) to provide its ADA to ensure that they retain the capa-
South Korea and Israel have system for Light Armed Helicopter bility and flexibility to meet evolving
devoted considerable attention to (LAH). Under the contract, IAI operational demands, after being in
strengthening its relations with the will provide its ADA system, a service for almost two decades. As
Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, GPS Anti-Jamming solution part of the upgrade programme, the
as well as Myanmar. capable of suppressing inter- Harpoon Surface-to-Surface Missile
ferences from multiple jammers (SSM) currently fitted onboard the
Military-security cooperation in from various directions, for serial frigates will be replaced with the
the form of arms trade as well as installation on LAH platforms.IAI’s Blue Spear SSM.
technology transfer and licensed ADA system was selected by the
production has emerged as an Defense Acquisition Programme In the region, IAI will also supply
important dimension of Israel’s Administration (DAPA) to be six of its advanced Sea Mini-POP
relations with Southeast Asian installed on various platforms of sensor payloads to the Royal
countries. the Republic of Korea Air Force, Thai Navy. IAI’s Sea Mini-POP
Navy, and Army. As part of the LAH is a multi-sensor electro optical
With military spending and demand programme, KAI has success- and infrared (EO/IR) payload that
for arms imports steadily increas- fully conducted integration of ADA includes a thermal camera with
ing over the past two decades, system on LAH prototypes. continuous optical zoom, a color
leading defence establishments-- camera with continuous daytime
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), According to Boaz Levy, IAI zoom and a laser rangefinder,
Elbit Systems, Israeli Military President and CEO,”the recent as well as advanced image pro-
Industries (IMI), and the Rafael transactions by IAI serve as a tes- cessing, positioning and focusing
Arms Development Authority--are tament to the company’s impactful capabilities.
hard-selling their products in the collaborations on the global stage,
region. Besides aircraft and related underscoring the trust that nations
systems upgrades, missile and anti- worldwide place in IAI’s innovative Also in demand in the region is
missile systems, border protection solutions, positioned at the forefront IAI’s StarLight Multi-INT intelligence
equipment, early-warning systems, of technology.” platform and advanced research
intelligence equipment, and military Recently, the Navy of Singapore tool that provides operational
aviation components are the most selected IAI’s Blue Spear missile for intelligence..

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