Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel has deemed Brazil a potential major defense
market.

Israel’s Defense Ministry has urged local contractors to invest
marketing efforts in Brazil. The ministry’s Sibat arms export agency has
organized a pavilion for Brazil’s largest defense and security exhibition,
Laad-2013, scheduled for April 9-12.

“The advanced technologies and solutions to be displayed by the
companies at the Israeli pavilion are addressing many of Brazil’s unique
requirements and provide the foundation for successful cooperation and
technology sharing for the mutual benefit of our two countries,” Sibat
director Shmaya Avieli said.

Sibat has organized a pavilion of 28 Israeli companies for Laad.
Officials said the Defense Ministry briefed Israeli companies on Brazil’s
military and security projects, including protection of the World Cup in
2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016.

“Sibat, the international defense cooperation division of the Israel
Ministry of Defense, is promoting defense cooperation between Brazilian and
Israeli companies,” Sibat said on April 3.

Over the last 18 months, several Israeli defense majors, including Elbit
Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, have been awarded aerospace and
other contracts with the Brazilian military and security forces. Elbit and
IAI have supplied unmanned aerial vehicles for Brazilian homeland security
and border operations.

“The displays at the Israel national pavilion will include a range of
unmanned systems currently operational in border security and infrastructure
protection,” Sibat said. “The displays will also feature multi-mission
command and control solutions designed to respond simultaneously multiple
threats at different scenes, especially in critical capability for security
management of mega-events.”

Officials said Brazil, with the largest military in South America, could
become Israel’s next major defense client. They said Israeli contractors
have sought an alternative to Turkey’s defense market, which ended all
orders from the Jewish state over the last two years.

  2014 World Cup, 2016 Olympic Games, Elbit Systems, Israel sets sights on Brazil as next major defense client, Israeli Aerospace Industries, Laad-2013, Sibat