U.S. seeks to cooperate with Israel on Unmanned air vehicles (UAVs)

TEL AVIV [MENL] -- The United States wants to cooperate with Israel in the development of unmanned air vehicles.

The United States, which plans to invest $250 billion over the next decade, in military space systems, want to explore with Israel the potential use of UAVs.

"We will try to understand the feasibility of the various uses of UAVs," U.S. Air Force Gen. Richard Powell told Israel Air Force magazine. "Israel has a lot of experience in UAVs and therefore we want cooperation."

Powell said the cooperation would focus on the exchange of technical data and other information relating to UAV programs. The U.S. military uses several Israeli UAVs, including the Hunter and Pioneer. The Hunter was said to have performed well in the NATO campaign in Yugoslavia.

The general is director of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, established in 1997 to oversee all Air Force research programs, including that concerning the F-22 and the Joint Strike Fighter. He recently visited Israel and held talks with senior defense officials.

Powell said Israel and the United States are cooperating in the development of the Theater High Energy Laser, designed to destroy incoming short-range rockets. The two countries focus on different aspects of the system and share the costs of research.