Rafael-Mesko arms deal to reinforce U.S. ties
Late last month, a zł.13 billion ($350 million) agreement to last until 2013 was signed between Israel and Poland to allow the Polish arms manufacturer Mesko to produce the "Spike" anti-tank missile under license from Israel's state-owned Rafael munitions firm.
The deal was signed in the presence of Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski and Amos Yaron, his Israeli counterpart. Yaron is quoted as referring to the deal as Poland's "strategic choice" which is "not confined... to the industrial sphere" and will lead to "a further enhancement of Polish-Israeli defense relations."
Six months ago, Polish-Israeli relations took a turn for the better when Poland accepted the Israeli Air Force's request to ceremonially fly three of its F-15 fighter jets over the site of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz (Oświęcim), in southern Poland.
"It is no secret that there is a very powerful Jewish lobby in the USA," Colonel Alon said in an interview at the Israeli embassy. "When they hear about this agreement between Israel and Poland they will support Poland's relations with America, Poland's business relations with the USA and Poland's ambitions in Iraq."
The Polish army itself will receive 2700 Spike missiles, while Mesko, which has had a decade of losses, will be able to export the weapons it makes in Poland. A new production base will be licensed to export to armed forces undergoing a similar transformation to Poland's, such as recent fellow NATO entrants Hungary and the Czech Republic.
The development is driven by Polish military reforms aimed at bringing this country's armed forces into line with NATO, which it has been a member of for five years. The Spike is compatable with U.S. and NATO hardware.
Export of the Spike missile will add to Poland's impressive defense export figures, which are growing faster than any other export sector, and further raise this county's credentials as a major arms exporter as it pitches to become a key provider for the new Iraqi army.
"This recent missile deal is symbolically very important in Israel," continues Colonel Alon. "If it had failed, critics would have referred back to history to explain why the Poles had decided not to take the Israeli offer which, according to specifications such as range and accuracy, was the best."
Colonel Alon speaks of a strategic friendship between Poland, Israel and the USA, which it is important to nurture as Poland attempts to raise its international profile, and most vividly in the Middle East. "Poland deserves preferential treatment from America when applying for Iraq reconstruction tenders for the role they are playing," added Alon.
On Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiusz Najar announced that a trade delegation will shortly be traveling to Iraq in order to lobby support for reconstruction contracts. "Four hundred companies will take part in this trip," said Najar at a press conference.
Najar added that this country's biggest arms export firm, Bumar, will be assured a financial guarantee from the government if it wins the zł.1.8 billion ($500 million) dollar tender to supply the new Iraqi army that it has submitted its bid for. The general director, Roman Baczyński, told the Business Journal that he is highly confident about the success of his bid.
PKN Orlen, (PKNA.WA) Poland's largest oil firm, is awaiting the Iraq reconstruction tender result of a zł.7.4 billion ($2 billion) refinery contract as part of a consortium with the Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root.
The deal was signed in the presence of Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski and Amos Yaron, his Israeli counterpart. Yaron is quoted as referring to the deal as Poland's "strategic choice" which is "not confined... to the industrial sphere" and will lead to "a further enhancement of Polish-Israeli defense relations."
Six months ago, Polish-Israeli relations took a turn for the better when Poland accepted the Israeli Air Force's request to ceremonially fly three of its F-15 fighter jets over the site of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz (Oświęcim), in southern Poland.
"It is no secret that there is a very powerful Jewish lobby in the USA," Colonel Alon said in an interview at the Israeli embassy. "When they hear about this agreement between Israel and Poland they will support Poland's relations with America, Poland's business relations with the USA and Poland's ambitions in Iraq."
The Polish army itself will receive 2700 Spike missiles, while Mesko, which has had a decade of losses, will be able to export the weapons it makes in Poland. A new production base will be licensed to export to armed forces undergoing a similar transformation to Poland's, such as recent fellow NATO entrants Hungary and the Czech Republic.
The development is driven by Polish military reforms aimed at bringing this country's armed forces into line with NATO, which it has been a member of for five years. The Spike is compatable with U.S. and NATO hardware.
Export of the Spike missile will add to Poland's impressive defense export figures, which are growing faster than any other export sector, and further raise this county's credentials as a major arms exporter as it pitches to become a key provider for the new Iraqi army.
"This recent missile deal is symbolically very important in Israel," continues Colonel Alon. "If it had failed, critics would have referred back to history to explain why the Poles had decided not to take the Israeli offer which, according to specifications such as range and accuracy, was the best."
Colonel Alon speaks of a strategic friendship between Poland, Israel and the USA, which it is important to nurture as Poland attempts to raise its international profile, and most vividly in the Middle East. "Poland deserves preferential treatment from America when applying for Iraq reconstruction tenders for the role they are playing," added Alon.
On Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiusz Najar announced that a trade delegation will shortly be traveling to Iraq in order to lobby support for reconstruction contracts. "Four hundred companies will take part in this trip," said Najar at a press conference.
Najar added that this country's biggest arms export firm, Bumar, will be assured a financial guarantee from the government if it wins the zł.1.8 billion ($500 million) dollar tender to supply the new Iraqi army that it has submitted its bid for. The general director, Roman Baczyński, told the Business Journal that he is highly confident about the success of his bid.
PKN Orlen, (PKNA.WA) Poland's largest oil firm, is awaiting the Iraq reconstruction tender result of a zł.7.4 billion ($2 billion) refinery contract as part of a consortium with the Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root.
