When the almost "iron" demand is that a country exporting arms will transfer know-how to the purchasing nation, Israel faces a big problem.
In the past, arms deals with almost all the countries included offset agreements that were based on buying goods from the purchasing state, but this is almost history. Nowadays the requirement is to transfer knowledge directly connected to the advanced weapon system.
This creates a problem for Israeli defence and aerospace industries. When the deal is with a western European nation, for example, the ministry of defence approves almost all the required transfers of technology.
But in recent years Israel has added many names to the list of states buying Israeli-made weapons systems such as advanced unmanned air systems (UAS) and missiles.
The dilemma is a significant one. End-user agreements, which are an integral part of any such arms deal, have proved to be a very flimsy guarantee.
The section of the defence ministry that must approve any arms export, and accompanying technology transfers, is sometimes under pressure from other ministries claiming that the "larger picture" of Israeli interests in different parts of the world must be taken into account.
This year is a very sensitive one in relation to arms exports. The economic situation in many countries has been affecting the scope of arms deals with these powers. The situation has also created political pressures in these nations to gain advanced technologies from the selling country if a deal is signed.
There are many problems in this for a country that is under constant threat from the nations it borders and beyond.
In the past, arms deals with almost all the countries included offset agreements that were based on buying goods from the purchasing state, but this is almost history. Nowadays the requirement is to transfer knowledge directly connected to the advanced weapon system.
This creates a problem for Israeli defence and aerospace industries. When the deal is with a western European nation, for example, the ministry of defence approves almost all the required transfers of technology.
But in recent years Israel has added many names to the list of states buying Israeli-made weapons systems such as advanced unmanned air systems (UAS) and missiles.
The dilemma is a significant one. End-user agreements, which are an integral part of any such arms deal, have proved to be a very flimsy guarantee.
The section of the defence ministry that must approve any arms export, and accompanying technology transfers, is sometimes under pressure from other ministries claiming that the "larger picture" of Israeli interests in different parts of the world must be taken into account.
This year is a very sensitive one in relation to arms exports. The economic situation in many countries has been affecting the scope of arms deals with these powers. The situation has also created political pressures in these nations to gain advanced technologies from the selling country if a deal is signed.
There are many problems in this for a country that is under constant threat from the nations it borders and beyond.
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