Far from upsetting the US, this news is very welcome in DC. If NK tests, then that would show Japan the clear need for not just moving forward with BMD but also would give further impetus to them for a even more defense spending. The US has been trying to prod the Japanese into spending more on defense for the last few years and a NK missile test would play right into Washington’s hands.

Btw, how are the “helicopter carrying destroyers” 😀 coming along for the Japanese?

WOW!! Impressive. This thread actually managed to go 20 whole posts without dragging in the whole Israeli-Palestinian issue. A new record of sorts.

Meanwhile back to Israeli UAVs: There have been some press blurbs about India and Israel working on UAVs together. Any info on what is being worked on?

The joint venture SA and Swedish company was probably a part of the offset deal involved with the SAAF buying the Gripen.

Any line drawings or pics of the Mig-29s with dorsal tanks?

Clinton was gutting the military to do it.

36 F-35Bs are nothing to scoff at, especially when the T45 will be relieving them of most of the air defense role. Along with the E-2Ds, the CVFBG would present a capability that is second only to the US carriers. Not bad for half the cost of a Nimitz.

INTERNATIONAL DEFENSE REVIEW – APRIL 01, 2004

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Aerostat-based phased-array radar bolsters early warning capability
The Israel Air Force is enhancing the defense of the country’s northern border by introducing a 71m-long TCOM aerostat carrying Elta’s Aerostat Programmable Radar (APR) system, derived from the EL/M-2080 Green Pine phased-array radar that the company developed for the Arrow anti-ballistic missile system, to replace an earlier aerostat carrying a Northrop Grumman AN/TPS-63 radar.

The Indian Air Force is due to accept the first of two similar systems on firm order in late 2004, with a further two on option, which will operate near the border with Pakistan. TCOM received a special dispensation from the US Department of State to supply the aerostat to Rafael, which is acting as systems integrator for the Indian program, following the imposition of restrictions on the supply of US equipment after the detonation of nuclear devices by India and Pakistan.

The APR is a three-dimensional radar that can acquire and track targets at high and low altitudes, the latter including platforms such as cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters and microlight aircraft used by special forces or terrorists. In both the Israeli and Indian implementations, the aerostats also carry additional sensors including signals-intelligence receivers.