An international armaments exhibition that opened yesterday in Beijing features several prominent suppliers of military hardware, including Israel, who hope to ink deals with the People's Liberation Army.
Key European manufacturers like Acatel, Racal Electronics, Marconi and Thomson crowded into the show, sponsored by the PLA, at the Beijing International Exhibition Centre, along with a host of Chinese companies and several American firms including Agilent Technologies, Tektronix and Teradyne.
But it was the joint Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Israeli ministry of defence stand that outclassed all others with its display of advanced surveillance radar systems, models of Rafael and Barak missile systems and a newly developed laser-guided, anti-tank system.
China is known to be interested both in anti-missile missile technology and laser-guided weaponry. "Of course we are interested in developing our relationship with the Chinese military. We firmly believe that there are many areas where we can co-operate," IAI spokesman Noam Zafrir said.
IAI was also hoping to introduce to China its EHUD air-combat simulator training systems, which could help enhance the integration of China's air force, navy and army into a co-ordinated force capable of "winning a limited war under hi-tech conditions", he said.
Although the Israeli display carried video footage of a Phalcon advanced warning and control system mounted on a Boeing 767, Mr Zafrir refused to discuss the sale to China of the system, which Israel is fitting to Russian-built Il-76 transport planes. The US has pressured Israel to cancel the sale, which it fears could tip the balance of power in the Taiwan Strait. |
