Israel’s defense technology group RAFAEL, known for the development of the Iron Dome Counter Rocket and Missile and Trophy active protection systems is back at Aero India with new surprises – this time, its about C-DOME, a compact yet highly capable naval air defense system, superior versions of the Litening targeting pods and Reccelite reconnaissance systems, as well as advanced communications, command and control that have recently selected for the Indian Air Force future information system.
Through 2014 Rafael Advanced Defense Systems completed a major structural reorganization that established three divisions – Land and Naval Systems Division, Air and C4ISR Systems Division and Air Dominance Division. “The new formation reflects RAFAEL’s new business focus to best respond to opportunities and needs of its customers and partners.” Yedidia ‘Didi’ Yaari, President and CEO of RAFAEL told Defense-Update, “I expect these changes to continue our growth in the traditional areas of operation as well as in the new cyber domain.”
“India remains a strategic partner for our operation and a major target for our marketing activities, we are offering here many of our top capabilities.” Yaari stated, “The Indian move from buying military hardware abroad (BUY) to producing such systems in country (MAKE) is an important development for RAFAEL, as it enables us to exploit one of our major advantages as a developer – our ability to cooperate, transfer know how and support local production.“ Yaari explained.
Yesterday RAFAEL and the Indian Kalyani Group announced the formation of a Joint Venture Company in India based on the new ownership model (51:49). “We see Kalyani Group as an ideal partner for expanding our business opportunities in India. We have supported and will continue to support the Indian Ministry of Defense in gaining technological superiority to technological excellence.” Yaari commented.
Inherent in RAFAEL’s corporate cultural, these attributes have helped us to establish over 100 successful partnerships in Israel and with foreign governments and defense companies around the globe. “These partnerships leverage RAFAEL’s unique technological edge and proven systems, into defense solutions used successfully around the world.” Yaari added.
“One of our strengths in becoming an attractive partner, is our ability to meet technology transfer, local production and offset requirements” said Yaari. “Although we have yet to finalized the Spike contract, this important win for RAFAEL is a testament of our ability to meet those requirements and we are excited and honored by the Indian decision to equip its military with our missiles.” These missiles are currently produced in a number of countries and, according to Yaari, RAFAEL is currently establishing the infrastructure for industrial cooperation that will enable technology transfer to locally produce the Spike missiles in India. “We consider the Indian industry as a true partner in this field, as in areas related to other RAFAEL activities in India, and are confident that this partnership will be introduce an important added value, particularly to the customer and end user.” Yaari added.
