WASHINGTON — The United Nations is considering the acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles.
A UN acquisitions mission has been briefed on a range
tactical UAVs. The UN Acquisitions Department plans to arrive in Israel in
late November to discuss miniature UAVs for peace-keeping missions.
"Israel is a leader in the field of advanced technology, and we have the
means to use this technology to benefit both the UN and other world
nations," Israel's envoy to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, said.
Industry sources said an Israeli delegation began marketing the UAVs to
the UN in June 2008. The sources said the Israeli delegation pointed to the
benefits of UAVs in spotting insurgents and rebel groups in such places as
Sudan's Darfour province and Lebanon.
The Israeli delegation also briefed the UN on intelligence-gathering
systems to protect fixed sites. The sources said the UN was shown how such
systems could have protected its headquarters in Algiers, bombed in December
2007 by Al Qaida, Middle East Newsline reported.
The sources said the UN has not commited to any procurement from Israel.
They said they expect the UN to reach a decision sometime in 2009.
"Business opportunities aside, I see national significance in presenting
the world with Israel's impressive capabilities in the fields of science and
technology," Ms. Shalev said.
