May 27, 2024 | International, Land
January 2, 2019 | International, Aerospace
Israel Aerospace considering investment in drone maker Aeronautics
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - State-owned defense contractor Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) [ISRAI.UL] said on Tuesday it was in talks to invest in local drone maker Aeronautics (ARCS.TA).
The talks were at an early stage, IAI said, and no financial details were disclosed.
Meanwhile Aeronautics, which was searched on Monday by Israel Securities Authority investigators, said separately it was also talking to another unidentified group regarding the sale of its 50 percent stake in the surveillance and reconnaissance company Controp Precision Technologies.
In August, Aeronautics rejected a 430 million shekel ($115 million) acquisition offer from IAI rival, state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and businessman Avihai Stolero.
Israel-based Aeronautics manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles for military surveillance and defense purposes, as well as for the commercial sector.
On Monday, investigators from the market regulator searched Aeronautics' office, the company said. A court has placed a gag order on details of the investigation.
It was not the first time Aeronautics has been probed by Israeli authorities.
In August 2017, Aeronautics said the Defence Ministry had suspended the marketing and export license for one of the firm's attack drones to a single, significant customer in a foreign country. It denied it was at fault.
Israeli media at the time reported that the ministry had opened an investigation into Aeronautics over whether during a demonstration in Azerbaijan one of its drones was used to attack a military position in the neighboring country of Armenia, and if so, who was at fault.
In November that same year Israeli police said they were investigating one of the drone maker's deals but did not give details.
Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Alison Williams
On the same subject
-
-
September 25, 2020 | International, C4ISR, Security
Boeing assembles team to bid for next-gen missile defense interceptor
Jen Judson WASHINGTON ― Boeing has assembled a team with General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems and Aerojet Rocketdyne to bid to build the Missile Defense Agency's Next Generation Interceptor (NGI). The agency decided last year to scrap its plans to redesign the kill vehicle of its current Ground-Based Interceptors (GBI) that is part of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system designed to defend the homeland against possible intercontinental ballistic missiles from North Korea and Iran. The MDA is holding a competition instead to design a brand new interceptor for the GMD system. The company has an extensive history with the GMD system in place at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, having held the development and sustainment contract for years. That contract is set to expire in 2023 and MDA is weighing options to break up that contract to foster competition that promotes increased capability. “The Boeing-led team will deliver critical technology to enhance our homeland missile defense,” Norm Tew, Boeing Missile and Weapon Systems vice president, said in a Sept. 24 statement. “Combined, we bring decades of expertise in proven missile and weapon systems.” An NGI “requires a new way of thinking supported by a proven ability to deliver pioneering solutions,” Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS, said in a separate company statement issued Sept. 24. “We are excited to partner with Boeing to deliver the disruptive technologies needed to help MDA rapidly deploy an interceptor system that bolsters the nation's missile defense network and ensures that the U.S., our allies, and partner nations maintain military overmatch against ever evolving threats from adversaries.” Aerojet Rocketdyne will supply the propulsion system. “As the country's premier hit-to-kill propulsion provider, we're able to deliver low-cost, high-performance systems by leveraging our skilled workforce and strategic investments in innovative technology and materials,” Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO, said in the Boeing statement. Boeing reports the team submitted its NGI offering to MDA on Aug. 12. Also according to the statement, Northrop Grumman will serve as a “component supplier” on the Boeing team. Northrop is also teaming up separately with Raytheon to compete against the Boeing team and Lockheed Martin. Raytheon was the developer of the now-canceled RKV. MDA aims to downselect to two companies later this year, who will then compete for the right to build the interceptor. Proposals were due July 31, but MDA noted in its request for proposals that there may be some give in that schedule due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The agency requested $664.1 million in fiscal year 2021 for the NGI program, as part of a $4.9 billion five-year budget plan. https://www.defensenews.com/2020/09/24/boeing-assembles-team-to-bid-for-next-gen-missile-defense-interceptor/
-
January 31, 2024 | International, Land
Missile defense interceptor competition enters critical design phase
The Missile Defense Agency's homeland defense interceptor competition enters critical design review stage, putting it on a path for fielding by FY27.