Israeli firm sues Georgia in dispute over drones it deployed against Russia
TEL AVIV — An Israeli defense major said it failed
to obtain payment for the delivery of tens of millions of dollars worth of
combat systems to Georgia.
Israel's Elbit Systems has alleged that the former Soviet republic of
Georgia withheld payment for a range of unidentified military platforms.
Elbit has sued the government of Georgia for $100 million in connection with
contracts signed in 2007, Middle East Newsline reported.
"The lawsuit was filed as a result of the government's failure to pay
amounts due to the company in connection with deliverable items under
several contracts signed in 2007," Elbit said.
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Elbit is said to have been a leading Israeli supplier to Georgia's
military. The company reportedly sold 40 Hermes-450 unmanned aerial vehicles
to Georgia, with some of them deployed in the brief war with neighboring
Russia in 2008.
Elbit is also said to have been contracted to modernize a Russia-origin
Su-25 fighter-jet for the Georgian Air Force. The Israeli project to
modernize Georgia's military infuriated Russia, which conducted defense
industrial projects with the Jewish state.
"Most of the platforms were never delivered [to Georgia]," an industry
source said.
Georgia, under U.S. pressure, halted Israeli weapons deliveries in wake
of its defeat by Russia. The source said Georgia's use of UAVs eventually
led Russia to order similar Israeli unmanned platforms from both Elbit and
the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries.
Elbit said its suit against Georgia was filed on April 8 in the High
Court of Justice in Britain. No further details were reported.