Israel to continue assistance to China on airborne early-warning system
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Saturday, November 13, 1999
JERUSALEM -- Israel plans to continue with the airborne early-warning
project for China in a sale opposed by the United States.
Israeli officials said on Friday that the project does not involve the
transfer of U.S. technology to Beijing and that Western companies, including
those in the United States, are involved in deals with China that include
more advanced technology than that being offered by the Jewish state.
On Thursday, President Bill Clinton acknowledged that Washington has
expressed opposition to a $250 million project undertaken by Russia and
Israel for the sale to China of the Russian Il-76 cargo jet containing an
Israeli Phalcon airborne early-warning system. U.S. officials said they are
concerned that China will exercise an option to purchase three more such
aircraft.
The New York Times on Thursday said China wanted to buy four to eight
more of the AEW systems and place them on the Russian-made Ilyushin
aircraft. Russian contractors have modified the Ilyushin to accommodate the
large Phalcon system, which is normally installed on Boeing 707 passenger
jet.
"We have raised it with them because whenever any of our friends sells
sophisticated equipment that might be American in origin ... then we raise
that," Clinton said. "Our people had questions, and they had good reason to
have questions but sometimes when you hear these things it's not always
right. The story is accurate that we have raised the matter. But it is
inaccurate to say that we know as an actual fact that such a transfer has
occurred."
Clinton said the United States wasn't certain that the radar system was
sent to China. Pentagon officials said the sale of AEW systems to China
could enhance Beijing's ability to threaten Taiwan.
Israeli officials said on Friday that the Il-76 was delivered to Israel
Aircraft Industries in early November and the Phalcon system was being
installed. They said the effort would take several months.
Phalcon stands for Phased-Array L-Band Conformal radar, an advanced
airborne early warning system that will provide long-range radar
surveillance and coordination of forces during battle. The Phalcon has been
presented as a cheaper version of the U.S. AWACS systems.
The officials said they were not surprised by Pentagon objection to the
AEW sale, saying much of it was fueled by U.S. defense contractors. But they
said they did not expect Clinton to play a role in the criticism.
The United States, the officials said, knew of the China deal since it
was signed in 1997. But they apparently decided to wait until Russia
completed its part of the contract and Israel began installation of the
system.
Israeli officials have tried to impose a blackout on the China deal,
called the Ring project. Last year, the then-chairman of IAI, Avigdor
Ben-Gal, was reprimanded after he discussed the sale with reporters.
Israeli defense sources said that since 1994 Israeli sales of military
technology to China have dropped significantly.
Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian visited Israel last month and
discussed the offer of an IAI upgrade of China's Mig-21 fighters, the
backbone of the Chinese air force.
Saturday, November 13, 1999
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