31.07.2005
Ukrainian Army Sees Israel as Alternative to Russia
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Sami Rosen, AIA Israeli section
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| Anatoly Gritsenko |
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Ukraine's Minister of Defense Anatoly Gritsenko visited Israel from 24 till 27 of July, at the head of a big delegation. He met his Israeli counterpart, Shaul Mofaz, the President Moshe Katzav, and the Vice Premier Ehud Olmert. Ukrainian and Israeli Ministers of Defense signed the agreement on bilateral cooperation.
This visit excited much bigger interest in Ukraine than in Israel. The Ukrainian news agencies reported about it in detail, and the reports were published in many newspapers. One of them, Zerkalo Nedely (the editor of which is Gritsenko's wife, Yulia Mostova, who came with him to Israel), published a commentary by Valentin Badrak about the abovementioned visit, and the general issues concerning military cooperation between Ukraine and Israel. Badrak is the most important Ukrainian expert in military thematic. He heads the Kiev Center for Army, Conversion, and Disarmament Research. Badrak is known as the leading specialist in this sphere, in the CIS states, as well as in the West. Following are the most interesting abstracts of his commentary, provided with our explanations.
Long-awaited visits
Voyage of the Ukrainian Minister of Defense to Israel had been planned long ago. However, the visit was postponed many times for internal Ukrainian reasons, in particular, because of the frequent changes of the MOD Heads. That is why, in 14 years of independence, Anatoly Gritsenko was the first Ukrainian Minister of Defense to visit Israel.
At the moment, the visit of the President Viktor Yushchenko to Israel is being prepared. The president is due to arrive in Israel at the beginning of November. In this light, an appointment of the Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel appears to be especially important. This post is vacant from the last autumn. Early resolution of this issue will favor a successful preparation for Yushchenko's visit.
Ukrainian interest in military cooperation
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Insignia
of Ukrainian Defense Ministry |
The upcoming Yushchenko's visit is supposed to favor the strengthening not only of bilateral political relations, but also of military cooperation. Development of relations in this sphere is promoted by the fact of existence of the common roots of research school in both countries, possession of unique technical know-how, Israel's flexibility on the issue of arms sales, and the absence of any political demands on the Ukrainian side, in the framework of military cooperation.
One of the main reasons for increase of Ukraine's interest in military cooperation with Israel is the worsening of its relations with Russia. Until now the Ukrainian military industry was under a rather strong Russian influence. After the change of power in Kiev, and the aggravation of its relations with Moscow, realization of many important projects of the Ukrainian military industry found itself under a serious threat. In this light, the representatives of the Army Command directed their attention towards Israel. From the point of view of the Ukrainian military industry, the links with this country are now seen as an alternative to the previous partnership with Russia. Such attitude towards Israel was dictated by the factors further revealed.
Destruction of munitions: Israel possesses technologies and experience in this procedure, particularly in what concerns munitions that are laid on the ground and are very dangerous to dismantle. This issue is especially relevant for Ukraine. Its army stocks contain a huge amount of various missiles, mines, and shells dating from the Soviet epoch. Considerable part of these munitions is already obsolete. Absence of special conditions for their storage often results in explosions and arsons. Most efficient resolution of this problem is dismantling of the obsolete munitions. It is the Israeli companies, which possess the unique technologies for than process.
Modernization of combat aircrafts: Israel has a rich experience in modernization of the Soviet-made battle planes and helicopters for many countries of the former Warsaw Bloc. In particular, this concerns MiG-29 and Su-25 fighters, and Mi-24 and Mi-17 battle helicopters. Ukraine is interested in modernization of its program aircraft, for the use of its own army, as well as for sale to the third countries. Israel is capable to satisfy the needs of the Ukrainian army in modern digital communication systems, in advanced electronics for surveillance and reconnaissance systems, and in unmanned air drones.
Conformity with NATO standards: the program of development of the Ukrainian military forces is aimed at the integration in the Northern Alliance. Therefore, adaptation of army system and weapons to NATO standards is of a great importance. All developments of the Israeli military industry fully conform to those requirements.
Resolution of questionable issues with Russia: military industry of Russia and Ukraine were in the past a part of the giant mechanism of the Soviet military industry. After the collapse of the USSR, the two countries cooperated very closely. In many spheres, the Ukrainian military industry was dependant on the Russian counterpart. Recent aggravation of political relations between Russia and Ukraine had negative impact on relations between the military of the two countries. Today Kiev and Moscow mostly compete with each other on the markets of arms' modernization and sales. Previous close connection between military enterprises of the two countries now often leads to disputes and conflict situations. The Israelis assume obligations to resolve such kind of problems between the two former partners.
Approaching markets of the third countries: the Israeli arms producers have a long experience of work on the Asian and African markets. They also closely cooperate with their partners in the NATO states. The Ukrainians hope that through joint projects with the Israelis, they will gain access to these arms markets. Special interest is generated by the projects of modernization of the Soviet military hardware.
History of cooperation
Ukraine has long ago realized the benefits of cooperation with the Israeli military industry. Until now, the two countries signed the agreement on military and technical cooperation, and the agreement on mutual safeguard of secret information. This legal basis allowed Ukraine and Israel to carry out successfully a number of joint projects on the world arms market.
The Israeli mediator had previously helped UkrSpetsExport company to sell its "Kolchuga" radar system to Ethiopia. After that, this product of the Ukrainian military industry began to be in great demand all over the world. Another big joint project was that of modernization and sale to Burma of 36D6 radar systems. The army of neighboring India purchased a big batch of An-32 aviation training devices, developed jointly by the Israelis and the Ukrainians. In addition, UkrOboronService company and Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. were engaged in modernization of L-39 operational trainer.
Nonetheless, Ukrainian-Israeli cooperation in military-industrial sphere not always was successful. Through Kiev's fault, a multi-million worth contract for elaboration and sale of compact turbofan engines scuttled. This deal could become the second biggest deal in Ukraine's history, assenting only to the tanks' sale to Pakistan.
Joint projects to come
In the course of Anatoly Gritsenko's visit to Israel, his assistant Alexander Stetsenko, and the Ministry of Defense experts accompanying him, discussed a whole series of possible bilateral projects with the Israelis. Most prospective are the projects further described.
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| MiG-29 fighter |
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Modernization of MiG-29 fighter: two Israeli companies - national Israeli Aircraft Industries, and private Elbit Systems - are competing for a big project on modernization of MiG-29 fighters. Another competitor is Russia. the Ukrainians plan to finish studying the competitors' proposals in two months. Israeli proposal descends mainly to modernization of the avionics and long ago out-of-date airborne radar. The Ukrainian side, in its turn, makes a condition that renewal of the avionics should be carried out taking in account the technical novelties of the Ukrainian producers, elaborated particularly for MiG-29 (new airborne radar, and air missile with an active homing head).
Destruction of munitions: the Israeli side (in particular, the EMI corporation) offers a unique technology of a special foam that localizes the explosion area at the moment of detonation. The high-ranking officials of the Ukrainian MOD show interest to this particular technology. In their opinion, its use should be performed through foundation of a joint enterprise, which will be engaged if destruction of the obsolete munitions.
Communication facilities: in the course of the negotiations in Israel, the sides discussed the question of the Ukrainian military forces (first of all, the commando) equipment by the advanced communication facilities produced by the Israeli Tadiran Communications company. At the initial stage, it is planned to provide these facilities to one battalion of the Ukrainian Army. It will serve an example of how the Israeli production conforms to the local demands. Furthermore, in the framework of a tender, the Ukrainian military Command will decide, whom to prefer: the Israeli Tadiran, or its competitors – the Italian Marconi, and the American Harris. The companies that will involve the Ukrainian industry to the maximum, and will agree to a full or partial transfer of production technology to the Ukrainians, will have an advantage during this tender. Tadiran company is ready for such cooperation. Its administration agreed to adjust a digital communication station on one of the military plants in Kiev.
Ukraine – Israel
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Ukraine – Military international cooperation
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Ukrainian helicopter rescue pilots unit took part in UN exercise (11.07.05)
Ukrainian advisers took part in the operation of the Iraqi troops (11.07.05)
Ukraine hosts international course for peacekeeping forces (10.07.05)
Chinese military delegation came to Ukraine (09.06.05)
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Ukraine – NATO
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The planning conference for "Cooperative Best Effort-2005" exercise started working (18.05.05)
Ukraine-NATO working group will meet in Kiev (16.05.05)
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Ukrainian Chief of Staff came to Brussels (10.05.05)
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Ukrainian military industry
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Ukrainian army
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