Yoo hoo, Mr. Soetoro:Russia, Israel sign historic accord for transfer of aerospace and UAV tech

Gertz:

MOSCOW -- The defense ministers of Israel and Russia have signed a military agreement meant to facilitate the transfer of arms and technology to Moscow.

Officials said the accord could also pave the way for joint defense development and aerospace production projects.

Over the last year, Russia has acquired and deployed Israeli-origin unmanned aerial vehicles for the military.

The Searcher Mk-2 multi-mission UAV.

The first contract, signed in April 2009, called for the Russian procurement of two Bird Eye-4, eight I-View MK-150 and two Searcher Mk-2 multi-mission UAVs from the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries. The overall deal was reported at $51 million.

Officials said Israel was also helping train Russian military personnel to use the UAVs. They said Moscow has already signed a larger UAV contract in 2010 and estimated at more than $100 million.

Russia was also said to have offered joint development of advanced fighter-jets. Industry sources said Moscow's offer envisioned the supply of Israeli avionics, electronic warfare and other systems on Russian platforms.

"We have just signed a long-term agreement on military cooperation," Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said.

On Sept. 6, Serdyukov and his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Barak, signed the cooperation agreement. Officials said the two ministers discussed both military and weapons cooperation, including the prospect of Russian procurement of Israeli systems.

"It's very important to us that in the transition to a new image, the Russian armed forces use the experience the Israeli armed forces have and the work they has done," Serdyukov said.

Barak was said to have urged the Kremlin to block Russian military deals with Iran and Syria. Officials said Barak cited the S-300 long-range air defense system for Iran and the MiG-31 fighter-jet and P-800 anti-ship missile for Syria.

"Russia is a central power in the world, and a very dominant and influential force in the Middle East," Barak said.

When America DOES NOT LEAD WITH INITIATIVE, negative unintended consequences ensue (shit happens, bad shit)

When we cannot lead because the interest on our debt is as big as the ENTIRE defense budget, the only believable military option we have is deterrence against cataclysmic nuclear attack, but short of that... WE WILL BE COMPELLED TO BE RISK AVERSE.

When you compound this with a president who believes us guilty of original sin, and whose first instinct it to appease and apologize, the world becomes a science experiment for the 2nd law of thermodynamics.

What you end up with is your closest allies looking elsewhere so they can remain alive.

This administration is a shambling DISASTER.

It is simply unbelievable that we could have EVER seen Israel flirting with a strategic alliance with an obviously totally amoral Russia under any other president.

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