Defence

The Israeli ministry of defence will limit further sales of unmanned air vehicles to Georgia to avoid upsetting Russia.

Russia and Georgia dispute the sovereignty of Abkhazia.

In recent months the Russian air force has downed at least three Elbit Hermes 450 UAVs operated by the Georgian army.

At least one was shot down with an air-air missile launched by an RSK MiG-29. The two others were probably shot down by ground fire.

Georgia hopes to purchase more Israeli-made UAVs, but future contracts look likely to be frozen. Defence industry sources say that the Israeli foreign ministry has been instrumental is implementing the embargo the Israeli ministry of defence says it will not release information about the export of defence systems.