Can Israel keep its position as top UAS exporter ?

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The UAV market is changing rapidly – on one, hand the demand grows, but at the same time, the “rules” are changing.

Unmanned air systems (UAS) have become a very important item in the defense items shopping lists of countries around the world.

The UAS that have been transferred between countries has reached an all time peak, this according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).

Between 2010 and 2014, there were 439 UAS deals, compared to 322 in the five years previous to that.

According to the report, Israel is the largest exporter of UAS. Between 2010 and 2014, it delivered 165 units across the globe. The US came second with 132, followed by Italy’s 37.

Since 1985, Israel has accounted for the majority (60.7%) of UAS exports worldwide. Despite China’s move into armed UAV exports, it only supplied 0.9% of total exports during this last couple of decades.

Can Israel keep its position as top UAS exporter?

This will not be an easy task.

The open war between the two major Israeli UAS manufacturers has very strong impacts. Last year, the Israeli ministry of defense has withdrawn the export permits to Poland held by the two major Israeli UAS manufacturers – Israel aerospace industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems.

The decision was taken after a fight between the two Israeli companies that resulted in resignation of Poland’s Deputy Minister of Defense General Waldemar Skrzypczak

The Polish press then said that he was forced to resign for internal reasons, but the competition between Elbit Systems and IAI for the sale of UAV’s to the Polish Army, which got out of control, was a contributing factor.

In recent months, since the initial bids were made, the Israeli ministry of defense has been trying to find a “creative” solution, together with the Polish counterparts.

In Ukraine, the new reality became very clear last year, when the Israeli foreign ministry blocked the  sale of UAS to this country, in order to avoid any negative effect on the Russian-Israeli relations.

Since the armed conflict between Russia and the Ukraine has started and intensified, Ukraine has expressed its urgent need for some types of Israeli made UAS.

Negotiations began with some Israeli manufacturers and at least one has reached a very advanced stage.

The foreign ministry’s step was a result of Israel’s effort not to provoke Moscow.

In recent years, Israel has asked Moscow again and again to avoid selling weapon systems, mainly advanced surface – air missiles to Iran and Syria.

These two examples and there are many more show that the size number of Israeli mad UAS exported to foreign countries does not depend only on their quality and price.

And only two weeks ago Germany, France and Italy have decided to initiate a program to develop a joint MALE UAV.

This has almost slammed the door in the face of the Israeli industry, that hoped to sell such a UAV to these countries.

So, the situation is very complicated and class for rethinking in Israel.