"The new agreement is the next important step, which stems from our industry ties with Boeing and is based on solid foundations of fruitful cooperation. This is a key opportunity for the two companies to exercise their capabilities and expand their hold on the defense missile market," said Yitzhak Nissan, CEO of the Aerospace Industry.
The Aerospace Industry (TAI) and Boeing signed an agreement last weekend to expand their cooperation on the Arrow 3 weapon system. The two companies point to a fruitful cooperation that has lasted for about a decade.
"The new agreement is the next important step, which stems from our industry ties with Boeing and is based on solid foundations of fruitful cooperation. This is a key opportunity for the two companies to exercise their capabilities and expand their hold on the defense missile market," said Yitzhak Nissan, CEO of the Aerospace Industry.
The strategic agreement between IAA and Boeing is designed to examine and develop new opportunities in the defense missile arena. During the last decade, IAA and Boeing combined efforts in the development and production of the Arrow missile system. After its deployment in Israel, the system became an essential factor in the country's strategic defense against missiles, and thus was actually the world's first defense missile system in national operational activity.
"We are happy to mark this event with our partner TSA, and to extend the agreement between us also to future cooperation of initiatives in the field of defense missiles," said Roger Krone, President of Boeing's Networks and Space Systems Division. "The Arrow program demonstrates Boeing's commitment to developing international partnerships in this field around the world."
"We are very satisfied with the development of our relations with Boeing and certainly look forward to reaching higher levels of business cooperation. This is a wise move by the two companies that will allow them to face the challenges of the future together," said Yosef Weiss, IAA Vice President and Director of the Missiles and Space Division.
TAA is the main contractor in the development and production of an arrow weapon system. Its initiative and development enabled the revenues of the "Hatz 2" for operational use in the IDF, and now, in collaboration with Boeing, IAA is developing the "Hatz 3" system - a decisive factor in Israel's multi-stage strategic anti-missile defense plan.
"Boeing's communications system with IAA has produced innovative, advanced and achievable anti-missile defense capabilities. We look forward to the continuation of the partnership and the development of the next generation of the Arrow system," said Dr. Greg Hyslop, Vice President and CEO of Boeing's Missiles and Defense Systems Division.
The celebratory ceremony, which was hosted by Uri Sinai, director of the MLA plant of the IDF, was attended by senior representatives from the Ministry of Defense, among them Brigadier General (Ret.) Ofir Shoham - Head of the Directorate for Research and Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (MPAAT), Yair Ramati - The new head of the Wall Directorate in the Ministry of Defense and many senior officials and experts from the defense industries.
Since 2002, the Arrow program has been a joint effort between the US Missile Defense Agency and the Ministry of Defense's Wall Directorate.
In pictures:
2) (from right to left) Uri Sinai - Director of the IAA's MLM plant, Yosef Weiss - IAA's Vice President and Director of the Missiles and Space Division, Roger Krone - President of Boeing's Networks and Space Systems Division.
3) Launching an arrow.
For more information, please contact:
Doron Souslik
Deputy Vice President for Communications
Tel: 03-935-8509
Fax: 03-935-8512
Email: hpaz@iai.co.il
