01/10/2015 Sources : Etat-major des armées

Mardi 29 septembre 2015, le général Pierre de Villiers s’est rendu à Versailles, où le Service d’infrastructure de la défense (SID) avait choisi le cadre somptueux de l’Orangerie pour célébrer son 10e anniversaire. Jeune service qui puise ses traditions dans la longue histoire des fortifications et des travaux maritimes, le SID est aujourd’hui composé de spécialistes de haut niveau, à l’image des jeunes ingénieurs militaires (les IMI) dont le baptême de promotion a été célébré lors de cette journée d’anniversaire.

Pour le chef d’état-major des armées, l’infrastructure est une dimension essentielle de la réussite du modèle d’armée à l’horizon 2020. Qu’il s’agisse de la condition du personnel, du maintien en condition des équipements, de la protection des emprises ou, plus conjoncturellement, de la capacité à réaliser un plan d’hébergement d’urgence comme celui déclenché au profit de l’opération SENTINELLE, l’infrastructure est au cœur des enjeux de la réforme. C’est pourquoi le CEMA a tenu à participer, aux côtés du ministre de la Défense, à cette cérémonie et comme toujours, à y rencontrer les plus jeunes, ceux qui incarnent l’avenir des armées et qui doivent comprendre et mesurer les enjeux auxquels ils seront confrontés.

Repères

SID

Le Service d’infrastructure de la Défense (SID), rattaché au SGA, est le référent ministériel dans les domaines de la construction, de la maintenance immobilière, de la gestion domaniale et de l’énergie aussi bien sur le sol national qu’à l’étranger. Héritier d’une longue histoire, le SID puise ses racines de la fusion en 1691 de l'administration des Fortifications terrestres et des Travaux maritimes.

IMI

Le corps des ingénieurs militaires de l’infrastructure (IMI) a été créé en 2010. Ces ingénieurs sont formés au sein de l’école nationale supérieure des ingénieurs de l’infrastructure militaire (ENSIM). Au cours de la cérémonie, la 4e promotion d’IMI, intégrée en 2014 a été baptisée du nom de « Marquis d’Asfeld ».

ENSIM

Cette école, créée en 2011, est adossée, pour la formation académique d’ingénieur, au campus d’Angers de "Arts et Métiers ParisTech" (nom de marque adopté par l'Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers (ENSAM) en 2007). La formation à l’ENSIM dure quatre années.

March 21, 2015 By Barbara Opall-Rome – Defense News

TEL AVIV — Israel has passed the point of no return in its plans to sell Israel Military Industries (IMI) to the highest qualified bidder by the end of this year, according to the man charged with overseeing privatization of the nation's oldest defense firm.

"There's no turning back … We're now in a process that won't be stopped," said Ori Yogev, head of the Government Companies Authority (GCA).

After decades of discussion and short-lived privatization plans, the government formally published its request for bids this month.

By autumn, the government aims to announce the winning bidder or consortium of investors in IMI Systems, a restructured, debt-free, advanced technology-oriented spinoff of IMI, an 82-year-old firm that predates Israeli independence.

Up to 90 percent equity in the new firm is being offered to eligible foreign investors, with transaction closing slated by the end of December.

In an interview shortly before last Tuesday's election, Yogev said neither the current lame duck government nor the one to be formed under fourth-term leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are interested or even capable of halting the process.

"We have the force of a formal government decision driving this and there is consensus among all the political players," he said.

"There won't be a new defense minister who can do anything differently. We would need a new prime minister, finance minister and defense minister to jump in and battle the consensus, and that simply won't happen."

In April, the GCA, IMI management and advisers from Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. — a US-based brokerage and investment banking firm hired by the government to assist in the sale — will embark on a road show aimed at cultivating interest among prospective buyers in the US and possibly Europe.

Candidates have until May 15 to notify the government of their interest, after which they will be screened by the Israeli Defense Ministry to access GCA's data of IMI financials, technology development programs and backlog of orders. Access to GCA's data room will require a $1.5 million bank guarantee.

"At this stage, the [bank guarantee] allows preliminarily certified candidates into the data room where they'll see the entire agreement, closing schedules and all they need to conduct due diligence. Then, if they decide they really want to bid, candidates will undergo a final screening by MoD to determine eligibility," Yogev said.

Under the closure of sale process, MoD-cleared candidates have until mid-September to submit bids, along with a prerequisite $8.5 million bank guarantee. The government plans to sell IMI to the highest bidder, with transaction closing slated by the end of the year.

"In the meantime, it could be that some of the international and local parties may want to join forces, since the government is requiring an Israeli partner with at least 10 percent equity," Yogev said.

He noted that the government retains the option to negotiate a best and final offer, should offers fall short of IMI's assessed value of some $600 million.

He confirmed locally published accounts that the government has subsidized IMI to the tune of 2.5 billion shekels (US $620 million) over the past decade, primarily to cover pension expenses of employees long absent from company rosters.

"We are taking all the problems of the past and leaving them in the government's hands," Yogev said.

"All the agreements are signed. More than 1 billion shekels have been budgeted to prepare for this privatization… Already 800 workers have left IMI and there is a plan for a few hundred more during the course of the year," Yogev said.

"The company we're offering is debt-free and cleansed of all legal claims. It's a company with a rich heritage that boasts a record backlog of more than $2 billion based on fully transparent and internationally accepted accounting procedures," Yogev said.

Vital Strategic Asset

Designated by the government a vital strategic asset, the new firm will remain an Israeli company, managed by Israeli nations and subject to Israeli laws and Defense Ministry security procedures.

According to data posted on the GCA's website, candidate investors will be disqualified if they are: "a hostile state; a citizen or resident of a hostile state; a corporation that was signed or whose center of business is in a hostile state; a corporation controlled by a hostile state or citizen and/or resident of a hostile state; or a foreign state."

The company will be sold as a single entity apart from heavy rocket propulsion systems and other classified programs that will remain in government hands under a new company, called Tomer, to be managed by MoD.

Yogev estimates that all but "a few hundred million shekels" of IMI's $2.125 billion backlog and 380 of its 2,700-strong workforce will be transferred to state-owned Tomer.

"There's a small, but very important part of IMI that we will not transfer to private ownership. But Tomer will not compete with the privatized IMI. On the contrary, Tomer has a strong agreement with IMI to cooperate in future. The new IMI will produce for Tomer and will be a market for some of its technologies," he said.

IMI Managing Director Avi Felder noted that the new company up for sale has undergone a significant restructuring and efficiency streamlining, with hundreds of millions of shekels invested in upgraded infrastructure and new product lines.

"At the beginning of 2015, IMI realigned its corporate operating structure to better serve a shift in customer demand from individual products to comprehensive defense solutions. In the process, we've reduced redundancies across divisions," he said.

"We enjoy a global customer base that spans Europe, Asia and the Americas, along with decades of close cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces, the US military and NATO forces," Felder said.

He noted that sale of the firm includes 85 percent of Ashot Ashkelon, a provider of jet engine shafts, drive and suspension systems; as well as 100 percent of IMI's Anti-Terror Academy.

"We're well positioned across a very focused and value-added spectrum of the defense and homeland security market," Felder said.

According to the GCA's website, IMI streamlined its operations from five divisions with 11 units into three divisions — firepower, maneuverability and small caliber ammunition — with five customer-oriented business units.

GCA noted that the firm routinely invests some $110 million in Israeli government- or customer-funded research and development and is now operating under high environmental, health and safety standards as required by Israeli law.

Recent awards include a $660 million, five-year contract to Israel's MoD for advanced tank rounds and munitions and another $150 million in Israeli MoD replenishment of weaponry expended in last summer's Protective Edge war in Gaza. Additionally, GCA listed another $700 million in unspecified export contracts as part of IMI's backlog.

"At the beginning of 2016, IMI is set to operate as a leading international defense company under private ownership," said retired Israeli Maj. Gen. Udi Adam, IMI's chairman.

"As a private company, IMI will have more managerial flexibility to maximize existing capabilities and fortify future competitiveness on the global market," he added

7/2/2015 Amir Rapaport - israeldefense.com

On the eve of the year when IMI is to be sold, CEO Avi Felder speaks about the privatization project, a cooperative with Rafael and the lessons derived from Operation "Protective Edge": “Urban wars will continue”

At the outset of 2015, Avi Felder faces a series of unusual challenges: completing the structural revision within IMI, assimilating the lessons of Operation Protective Edge with regard to the Company’s product range, and above all – facilitating the privatization of IMI, after some elements possessing secret information on the manufacture of rocket engines have been separated from it, and a new company, "Tomer" has been established.

Felder is confident that the coming year will end with IMI, one of Israel’s longest running government companies, under a different ownership, either private or public.

“2015 will be a year at the end of which we should emerge as a privatized company under private, or more precisely non-government ownership,” says Felder.

Does the fact that the Knesset has been dissolved and elections will be held next March change the privatizing plans?

“The train has already left the station. The process will not stop because of the elections. The Government Companies Authority is in charge of this process. We assist it in order to comply with all of the terms. So far, the Company has complied with 100% of the plan prescribed for it. I assume this compliance will remain the same. Later on, the process will be more technical and not one that calls for decisions that could be influenced by the elections.”

Where are we in the process right now?

“In January 2015, an advertisement will be published, calling for companies that would like to participate in the purchase to submit their bids. Subsequently, the regulator should approve the companies included in the bidding and it is planned that by the end of March or in early April at the latest, those companies will receive a detailed RFP and submit their responses to it. By the end of the year, the process will be concluded. We are currently working on the establishment of information rooms, to be opened in late March, for the benefit of the bidders, so that they may use the information to make a decision regarding the tender without compromising details that may adversely affect our on-going competitive position vis-à-vis the companies that may eventually purchase us. At the same time, other processes are progressing as well. During that period, IMI will be split into ‘IMI Systems’ – which would accept all of the Company’s assets and activities, and the residual IMI, which will keep all those things that I refer to as the ‘sins of the past’ – contaminated soil, environmental issues and so forth. The State will assume responsibility for the employees’ pension debts. The split should take place around March. That’s the general direction.

“At the information rooms, the potential buyers will receive all of the information in the most transparent and clear manner that would still protect the Company, as in the end, only one buyer will be selected. In any case, according to the decision of the ministerial committee, IMI Systems will be privatized as a single ‘block’ – it will not be broken down, but sold with all of the production plants and subsidiaries.

“At the same time, we are still working on the establishment of ‘Tomer’ – on the basis of our ‘Givon’ plant (the Rocket Systems Division). Just before IMI is handed over to the buyer, ‘Tomer’ will be separated from it. At this time, we are cooperating with IMOD on the characterization of ‘Tomer’. This plant will deal with all aspects of rocket engines and propulsion, and would sell the engines to IMI just as it is currently done by Givon. It will be a government company – 100% owned by the State of Israel.”

Will the other knowledge centers be privatized?

“Yes. Only the Rocket Systems Division will still be owned by the State of Israel. All of the rest is for sale. We are also working intensively on the relocation of ‘IMI Systems’ to the Negev, which is to take place immediately following the privatization. By 2022 we would no longer be in Ramat HaSharon. To accomplish the relocation to the Negev within seven years – that is a challenge in itself. The relocation process will consist of several phases. Now we are working on the planning of the area we will transfer to. We are considering which activities should be located there. We intend to evaluate what IMI would look like in the coming years, and ensure that some space will be reserved for future development in the context of the relocation to the Negev.”

Will the buyer be required to relocate to the Negev? Will he not be able to change his mind about it?

“There is an agreement, and it will happen. The Government of Israel decided to privatize the Company. In April 2014, 12 contracts were signed between the Company and the trade union and the employees – and the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Defense. These contracts specified everything that had been agreed – the retirement agreement, the agreement regarding the relocation to the Negev – all of these agreements are elements of the privatization process. Now, we take all of those framework agreements and break them down into details, and most importantly – we execute them!”

According to Felder, out of 3,700 IMI employees in early 2014, 700 have already agreed to retire by the end of the year. 500 additional employees will retire over the next few months, and 380 will transfer to ‘Tomer’ after the privatization. At the same time, 250 new employees have been recruited for all positions – from production workers to engineers and marketing managers.

At the bottom line, is the company offered for sale healthy and profitable?

“Yes.”

What is your backlog of orders?

“We are entering the coming year with a backlog of orders of about eight billion NIS. As far as I can remember, this is a record for the Company. It gives us solid working prospects for the next four years. Beyond that backlog, we are taking into account an internal growth of something like 10% a year. The Company will be profitable in 2016.”

Does the backlog include Givon?

“Yes, but not in considerable numbers – around 200-300 million NIS, as over there they have many things that come in over the year and are executed promptly. The backlog also includes our subsidiary ‘Ashot Ashkelon Industries’, which has a backlog of orders of 900 million NIS. ‘Ashot’ is a profitable company with 15% holdings on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange, and it will remain profitable.”

What is the ratio between foreign and domestic business?

“About 40% of IMI’s sales are to IMOD and 60% to overseas clients.”

Investments & Structural Change

Avi Felder says that apart from the preparations for the tender, IMI is undergoing some major changes: “We are investing in the purchasing of machines for the production floors in all of the Company’s plants, and have launched a three-year plan for upgrading the Company’s IT system. We have not made any investments in infrastructure for many years, owing to the budget restrictions we were under.

“Another major change is the completion of the establishment of the business administrations within the Company. In 2014 we initiated the establishment of business administrations for infantry, armored forces, engineering, artillery, air and HLS. The function of these administrations is to deal with project management, system engineering and marketing, and be client-driven. In my view, the administrations are the locomotives of the Company. In 2015, these locomotives will pull out and start off.”

How long will "IMI Systems" remain independent?

“I do not know. I assume that a wise and reasonable buyer will continue to operate ‘IMI Systems’ as a business entity and lead it to new horizons. Even under the new ownership, the Company will operate under government regulation, as it operates today.

“There is no difference in the regulative work, regardless of whether it is a private or a government company, small or large.”

In the event that the buyer turns out to be Elbit Systems, will IMI be merged into the group?

“Elop remained Elop even under Elbit’s ownership, and Elisra also remained a separate company. I cannot step into the buyer’s shoes, whoever he may be, he is committed to a certain period of time when ‘IMI Systems’ will continue to be a company. In any case, I do not foresee any dramatic changes initially. In such a process, when a buyer enters a company, he will first of all familiarize himself with it.

“IMI, in particular, is like an aircraft carrier. It is not a small company. The buyer will have to study all of its obscurities, familiarize himself with its engine. Subsequently, he will have to determine whether he can create a synergy with other activities. In my opinion, this stage will take a reasonable amount of time.”

Regardless of the Privatization, has your product range changed over the last five-year period?

“Yes. I think that the similarity between our products today and the range of products we had five years ago is only in the names of the activities, but not in the products. In the field of infantry, for example, we have introduced over the last few years the MPRS system for firing rifle grenades with a high degree of precision, a high-accuracy mortar shell and a new hand grenade with improved safety devices. In the armored forces field, we introduced the 120mm APAM-MP-T M329 tank cartridge, 105mm APAM-MP-T M117/1 tank cartridge and 120mm HE-MP-T M339 tank cartridge. The latter cartridge was used operationally for the first time during Operation Protective Edge, and proved to be a fantastic success.

“Another activity which has developed significantly is artillery rockets. In that field, too, we have introduced a range of completely new products. We now have rockets to ranges of 40 to 250 kilometers, with a CEP of a few meters.”

You surprised everyone with your Predator Hawk guided artillery rocket to a range of 250 km, which you unveiled at the KADEX exhibition in Kazakhstan last summer

“As far as I am concerned, it was no surprise. Anyone who is familiar with our capabilities only asks us ‘when will you introduce the next rocket’.”

What can you say about the sales of the Extra rocket to a range of 150 km?

“This rocket has already been sold to several countries around the world, having passed several perfect trials. This is one example of the change the Company underwent. This deal was signed and delivered very quickly. We fully accomplished our objectives and our clients were satisfied, and even more importantly – satisfied clients come back. In this context, the Predator Hawk is an example of a satisfied client who came back.

“It is important to understand further that we are not just talking about the rocket itself, but rather about a layout of rockets. We sell a complete battalion or brigade, fully equipped from head to toe – the rockets for the launchers, the command centers, the ammunition, the meteorology, the UAV as well as a training and instruction package. The nice thing about the clients who purchased such layouts is that they currently use the rockets without us, in their training exercises.

“In the air category, we introduced the MPR-500 bomb, which was also used operationally for the first time during Operation Protective Edge. As far as we know, it was also tremendously successful.”

What are the sales of this bomb like, apart from sales to the IDF?

“We have had a few sales transactions as well as distribution agreements with some major corporations in the global market – these cooperative alliances apply to manufacturing as well as to sales. For obvious reasons, I cannot name the corporations with whom we entered those agreements.”

What about the continued manufacturing of "loitering weapons", after you developed the Delilah in the last decade?

“It is not our field. We have had no presence in the world of loitering weapons after the Delilah.”

Where do you stand in the field of active defense?

“We are currently engaged in a dialog with Rafael with the intention establishing a cooperative alliance on the issue of active defense. IMOD convened both Rafael and us recently, and at this time both companies are cooperating with the aim of developing the best system for IDF.”

According to Felder, the intention is to combine between Rafael’s Trophy system and IMI’s Iron Fist system, so that the interceptor will be made by IMI, the radar will be made by IAI (as in the Trophy system) and Rafael will serve as the primary contractor and integrator of the project. “We are currently working on the agreement between the companies,” said Felder. “The ownership structure for the project has not been finalized yet, but the general direction is a partnership.”

A partnership with 40% for Rafael, 30% for IAI and 30% for IMI?

“That is the general direction.”

Technologically, can a combination of the Iron Fist and Trophy systems really work?

“The engineers of these companies can do anything. All you have to do is just provide them with a suitable working environment.”

Will the system be available for the future Namer (Merkava) APCs?

“That is for IDF to decide.”

Will it be relevant to export sales as well?

“Provided we receive export permits.”

Generally, in your view, has the transition to the manufacture of precision munitions proved itself?

“Without a doubt, Operation Protective Edge proved to IMI that our development directions were correct. The entire subject of precision guided munitions suitable for urban warfare, on which we have been focusing all these years, has proven itself. The emphasis has been on inexpensive precision munitions that clients can afford. Every two years we prepare a strategic plan for five years ahead. After Operation Protective Edge we set up a team to check whether we are on the right track or need to make adjustments. We came to a sweeping conclusion that the trends were correct. Naturally, some adjustments were required, but no substantial changes.”

What about the fields of cyber and HLS?

“These are new activities which we entered recently. HLS had already existed (within IMI), on the basis of the IMI Academy for Advanced Security & Anti-Terror Training. The Academy provides an excellent basis for soaring and reaching better places. Thus far, the Company has not dealt with it very intensively, but the establishment of the HLS administration is a clear indication of the fact that we want to go in that direction, and take advantage of suitable products that we already have and of the Company’s marketing and integration capabilities.

“We established the cyber element for two reasons: firstly, to defend our products. Obviously, you cannot sell anything today without cyber defense. Secondly, we expanded our cyber defense activity on the basis of a more comprehensive perspective.”

Did you identify a business potential in this field?

“Certainly.”

And what about the more traditional fields of activity? Upgrades for armored still a business potential there?

“There is business in all of those fields. In the field of armored vehicle upgrades we are currently engaged in several projects around the world. In small arms ammunition, our sales to the IDF provide the primary basis for us, but we also sell to retail chains in the USA. In the USA we are regarded as manufacturers of premium ammunition. Our ammunition has excellent reputation. This market is twice as large as the military market, and is very stable.” Felder noted that IMI will once again participate in the SHOT Show, to be held in Las Vegas in January 2015.”

Regarding the new infantry vehicle, Combat Guard, developed by IMI, Felder said: “We developed one vehicle prototype that we showcased at the exhibition in Paris, and received a very serious response. We regard infantry mobilization as one of the legs the Company stands on. We are also involved in the Namer APC, the Body Guard and another off-road vehicle designated Wildcat. The advantage of these off-road vehicles is that they can operate on any terrain, under any conditions. For these vehicles, we also developed weapon systems that can promptly engage any threat based on identification data provided by the active defense system.”

In your view, has the era of wars between regular military forces ended?

“I always say – the unexpected is the only expected element in wars. I assume the military is being prepared so as to provide a solution to any potential scenario, and we attempt to be present at any niche that may prove attractive to the client. The primary characteristic of the battlefield today is the fact that it is constantly changing.”

What trends do you see evolving in the global defense market in the coming year?

“We regularly analyze the global trends. You see the defense budget in the USA, which once was at the highest level and is now being maintained at a certain level. The budgets in Europe have decreased drastically, with the exception of Russia – where the budget has increased by approximately 50%. China has also increased its budget by 50%. The budgets have moved eastward. The increase in the Russian and Chinese budgets has led to a boost in defense expenditure in the entire region. The drop in oil prices has also had a profound influence on the market.

“Generally, Israeli industry and the entire defense industry of Israel are at the technological top. We must retain that by investing in R&D, which yields a very high added value.”

Le "Combatguard" d'Israël Military Industries renouvelle le genre du blindé de reconnaissance... Photo Frédéric Lert

18 juin, 2014 Frédéric Lert (FOB)

C’est un des véhicules les plus surprenants d’Eurosatory : Israël Military Industries (IMI) a présenté sur son stand pendant Eurosatory le 4×4 « Combatguard », véhicule de reconnaissance, hybride entre MRAP et buggy californien… Le Combatguard, qui a été développé très rapidement sur fonds propres par IMI, comprend une capsule centrale blindée, haut perchée sur quatre roues ballons. La protection contre les tirs de roquettes est assuré par le système Iron First également fourni par IMI. De six à huit personnes peuvent prendre place dans la cabine blindée, avec une arme automatique sur le toit. L’accès se fait par une large porte latérale qui s’ouvre avec deux battants, vers le haut et le bas. Le Combatguard est relativement léger pour un véhicule de ce type (8 tonnes en ordre de marche) et puissamment motorisé avec un moteur diesel de 6,5l développant 300 cv. Ses très grandes roues lui offrent surtout d’étonnantes capacités tout terrain, au prix toutefois d’une silhouette très haute et d’un encombrement important.

27/3/2014 Amir Rapaport, Chile - israeldefense.com

Israeli-Chilean cooperation at FIDAE 2014: IMI and its counterpart in Chile present a rocket launcher vehicle for the Accular and EXTRA rockets. Special Report from Chile

Famae Company, the Chilean equivalent of the Israeli Military Industries is cooperating with the IMI: the companies are presenting together, at FIDAE 2014 in Chile, a rocket launcher vehicle that allows carrying and shooting of precise rockets. The launcher is for the Accular and EXTRA rockets – the Accular has a range of 40 km and the EXTRA of 150 km.

The rocket launcher vehicle is made ​​by Chile and is versatile, while the precise rockets are manufactured by Israel Military Industries. The exhibition allows a rare glimpse of the EXTRA rocket.

According to Shai Haimovitz from IMI, Chile has adopted the Israeli method of multiple rocket launcher that is versatile. Using the vehicle and launchers, it is possible to carry four EXTRA rockets, and ten Accular rockets.

Rami Sokolower, Director of Marketing of IMI's Land Systems Division, says that there is an ongoing cooperation with the Chilean company, also regarding marketing an active defense system for armored vehicles - the "Iron Fist". Both companies are jointly presenting this system as well.

The FIDAE exhibition is one of the major defense exhibitions in South America. This year 13 Israeli companies are presenting at the exhibition, with the assistance of SIBAT. Hundreds of senior officials from around the world have already shown interest in Israeli products presented at the exhibition.

17.12.2013 Dr Daniel Rouach et Dr Michael Bickard, - Israel Valley

Ses diverses particularités ont permis à Israël de développer une industrie de défense parmi les plus dynamiques au monde

L’industrie israélienne de l’armement est surdimensionnée par rapport à la taille du pays et fait figure de leader mondial dans de nombreux secteurs dont la production de systèmes électroniques et électrooptiques pour l’amélioration des plates-formes militaires air, sol et mer.

Ces produits incluent par exemple le matériel de vision nocturne, les drones, les produits lasers, les systèmes de photographie aérienne ainsi que les systèmes de management des données et de communication. L’industrie militaire israélienne est cependant également présente dans d’autres secteurs, tels que la production aérospatiale et le marketing des composantes du satellite spatial « Amos 1 », la production de munitions, d’équipement militaire et de matériel de protection.

Le degré d’internationalisation de l’industrie israélienne de défense est remarquable. En effet, celle-ci réalise 80% de son chiffre d’affaire à l’exportation (contre moins de 50% pour les autres pays) ce qui explique comment Israël peut avoir une industrie de défense aussi développée par rapport à la taille de son économie.

Fort de son expérience du terrain, Israël sait mettre en valeur son savoir-faire pour conquérir des parts de marché. Le montant des exportations de l’industrie israélienne de défense avait atteint il y a sept ans 4,4 milliards de Dollars. Ce chiffre représentait 10% des ventes d’armes dans le monde. Le pays est ainsi devenu le quatrième exportateur d’armes après les Etats-Unis, la Russie et la France.

L’Inde est le premier marché d’exportation des entreprises israéliennes de défense. Le géant asiatique en plein boom économique ne fait pas face aux mêmes restrictions que son grand concurrent la Chine. Du coup, elle est devenue une cible privilégiée des exportateurs israéliens. Les ventes vers le sous-continent atteignent par an environ la somme de 2 milliards de Dollars. Autrement dit : l’Inde représente un quart de l’activité militaire israélienne – c’est-à-dire autant que ce que l’état hébreu consomme lui-même pour sa propre défense. La plus grosse vente (connue et non couverte par la censure) vers l’Inde a été celle du système naval anti-missile Barak pour 450 millions de Dollars.

Les Etats-Unis constituent un partenaire privilégié d’Israël. Les armes sont souvent co-produites, voire développées ensemble comme par exemple le système anti-missile Arrow, les missiles « Popeye » ou encore la production d’une version de l’avion de combat F16. De nombreuses synergies sont recherchées en R&D entre les deux pays. Les Etats-Unis représentent également le deuxième marché d’exportation de l’industrie israélienne de défense. (A savoir : Les Américains ont acheté en 2006 pour 1 milliard de Dollars de technologies militaires israélienne ; ce qui correspond à une multiplication par plus de 3 depuis les 300 millions de Dollars de ventes réalisées en 1999).

Le secteur est à la fois constitué d’entreprises publiques et privées. Les plus connues d’entre elles se nomment “RAFAEL Armament Development Authority Ltd.”, “Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd.” (IAI), “Israel Military Industries Ltd.” (IMI), et “ELTA Systems Ltd.”. Le nombre d’employés par les entreprises publiques du secteur israélien de la défense a atteint des dizaine de milliers de dollars et les actifs de ces entreprises atteignaient la valeur de plusieurs milliards de dollars.

27/11 LesEchos.fr (AFP)

Le groupe des Industries militaires israéliennes (IMI), qui produit notamment le célèbre pistolet mitrailleur Uzi, va être privatisé, a annoncé mercredi le ministre israélien de la Défense Moshé Yaalon dans un communiqué.

"Je me félicite du feu vert donné à la privatisation des IMI. C'est une mesure qui aurait du être prise depuis des années", a affirmé M. Yaalon, soulignant que "l'IMI est une entreprise enregistrant d'importantes pertes, qui ne permettent pas sa survie, tout en produisant d'excellents équipements".

La décision a été prise par le comité ministériel de privatisation, qui a adopté un plan prévoyant que le groupe soit scindé, a précisé le quotidien économique Globes. Pour protéger les "intérêts nationaux vitaux", une partie de l'activité sera reprise par une nouvelle entreprise publique que le gouvernement va créer, tandis que le reste du groupe sera cédé.

Les terrains où se trouvent actuellement les unités de production de Tel-Aviv et de ses environs vont être évacués et vendus pour d'importants projets immobiliers privés, a ajouté Globes.

Il n'a pas été précisé quelle entreprise étrangère pourrait être intéressée par la reprise d'une partie des activités d'IMI, qui a accumulé des centaines de millions de dollars de pertes ces dernières années.

IMI produit l'Uzi, considéré comme le pistolet mitrailleur le plus populaire dans le monde, produit à plus de 10 millions d'exemplaires. Parmi les autres produits du groupe figurent le fusil d'assaut Galil, des mitrailleuses, des munitions, des roquettes, des explosifs, des véhicules blindés, des systèmes de déminage, ou encore des armes à fragmentation.

Le groupe forme également des agents de sécurité et gardes du corps israéliens et étrangers.

TEL AVIV, Israel, March 20 (UPI)

Israeli defense contractors have been ordered to observe a "compliance program" intended to eradicate corruption on defense deals.

Two weeks after India banned one of Israel's top defense companies amid bribery allegations, Israeli defense contractors have been ordered to observe a "compliance program" to eradicate corruption in defense deals.

The March 8 announcement by India's Defense Ministry blacklisting state-owned Israel Military Industries, along with five Indian and foreign companies, over a 2009 bribery scandal was a major blow to Israel's defense sector, which relies heavily on military exports. The ban from India is for 10 years.

IMI has rejected the Indian allegation it was involved a scandal that centered on Sudipta Ghosh, who in 2009 was director general of India's state-run Ordnance Factory Board.

He was sacked and indicted for alleged involvement in a wide-ranging conspiracy that included receiving bribes from defense contractors in exchange for favoring them in major Indian defense contracts.

The ban on IMI against competing in Indian government tenders could have a significant impact on Israeli defense sales to India, one of the Jewish state's biggest military customers.

Indian news reports stated that IMI has been forced to pull out of a multimillion-dollar plan to establish a factory producing artillery shell fuses. That's believed to be part of a scrapped $24 million deal to set up five plants in India to produce 155mm B-Modular Charge systems and other propellant charges for large-caliber artillery operated by the Indian army.

Israel's Defense Ministry, which oversees all military-related export contracts, has decreed that all Israeli companies sign on to the compliance program in line with stricter business regulations Israel's trying to adopt as a new member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Israel joined the OECD in 2011.

The ministry's director general, Udi Shani, has ordered its Export Licensing Division not to issue export permits to companies that refuse to adopt the new program on ethics and transparency.

The ministry said that several dozen Israeli companies have already agreed to adhere to the policies of the new program, while others were in the process of doing so.

Israel's defense industry, the most advanced in the Middle East and with close ties with the U.S. defense establishment, is a major revenue earner. It's chalked up billions of dollars in arms sales to put Israel in the front rank of the world's defense exporters.

But there have long been concerns the ministry has kept Israel's scores of arms exporters and arms traders on a very loose leash.

Prominent military and intelligence commentator Yossi Melman observed in exposing questionable Israeli arms deals in 2004 that these were "a genuine reflection of an unbridled arms export policy by the Defense Ministry."

Melman noted in the liberal Haaretz daily that the Defense Ministry, which has immense power in a state that's in a perpetual state of conflict, "has always had an extremely independent policy, which ignores the existence of the Foreign Ministry."

The defense establishment, which includes licensed arms dealers who work through the ministry, has frequently sold weapons to unsavory regimes to further U.S. or Israeli strategic policies or turned a blind eye to illegal arms sales that further Israeli interests abroad.

"As early as the 1950s," Melman observed, "Foreign Minister Golda Meir complained that Shimon Peres, then director general of the Defense Ministry (and now Israel's president) had kept secret the initiatives carried out in France for acquiring military equipment for the collusion resulting in the Sinai War."

He was referring to the secret pact between Israel, Britain and France to invade Egypt in 1956 to seize control of the Suez Canal after it was nationalized by President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Melman noted in 2004 that "in practice, there is nearly no oversight" of Defense Ministry arms deals, "neither by the government or the Knesset."

Six years later, he observed in a January 2010 report that seven Israeli arms dealers "are currently in jail in the United States, Russia, France and Britain" on charges of illegal arms dealing. All were former members of Israel's armed forces, and most were officers with ranks up to lieutenant colonel.

"All seven are familiar faces in the corridors of the defense establishment and at one time received arms dealing permits from the Defense Ministry," Melman noted.

24 mars 2011

Rivaux de longue date, notamment pour des contrats d’armements à l’étranger, I’industrie aéronautique israélienne (IAI) et Elbit Systems pourraient s’associer en vue de l’acquisition et du maintien d’un avion d’entrainement destiné aux futurs pilotes de chasse de l’armée israélienne. Ce dernier devrait être choisi dans les prochains mois afin de remplacer les vieux Skyhawks A-4, aujourd’hui inadaptés à l’évolution des technologies aériennes et rangés dans les hangars de Tsahal. Ces appareils, utilisés d’abord par l’US Navy au Viêt-Nam, connurent leur heure de gloire au moment de la guerre de Kippour en 1973. D’après le quotidien économique Globes, Elbit Systems, spécialisé dans les équipements électroniques à usage militaire, et IAI, fleuron de l’industrie de défense israélienne, pourraient très rapidement créer une joint venture. Dans les faits, la société serait financée par l’aviation de Tsahal qui louerait les appareils achetés par Elbit et IAI dans le cadre des programmes de formation de ses cadets. L’alliance Elbit-IAI a déjà été approuvée par Ronit Khan, directrice des autorités antitrust israéliennes. Elle intervient dans un contexte agité pour l’industrie militaire israélienne, alors que se murmure toujours une possible fusion entre IMI (Israel Military Industries), en proie à des difficultés économiques, et le puissant missilier Rafael. De son coté, Elbit Systems a annoncé en février avoir racheté 30% des actions d’Elisra, une société dont IAI est l’actionnaire majoritaire.