25 February 2019

Avalon 2019: Rafael positions for Australian expansion

by Jon Grevatt

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is positioning for expansion in Australia following its successful campaign in 2018 to supply its Spike LR2 anti-tank guided weapon system to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Gideon Weiss, director of marketing and business development at Rafael’s Air and C4I Systems Division, told Jane’s before the 2019 Avalon International Airshow, which runs from 26 February until 3 March near Melbourne, that the company’s efforts in Australia will be channelled through a joint venture (JV) that Rafael established with Australian company Varley in 2018.

Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems sees expanding opportunities in Australia with products including its SPICE 1000 guided munition system. (IHS Markit/Gareth Jennings)

The JV – named Varley Rafael Australia (VRA) – is building and supplying the Spike LR2 systems during the next few years for integration onto Rheinmetall Boxer 8×8 armoured vehicles on order for the ADF under Project Land 400 Phase 2. The JV will also be the main partner for Rafael on other proposals for the ADF, said Weiss.

Looking to expand on the Spike programme, Weiss said Rafael has identified additional opportunities in Australia for air and C4I systems including its SPICE 1000 guided bomb and BNET communication system.

SPICE 1000 is being positioned for a requirement under Australia’s Air 6000 Phase 3 project to procure weapons and countermeasures for air combat capability, while the BNET system has been identified as a possible solution to meet the ADF’s expanding communications requirements.

Rafael is exhibiting its family of Spike missile systems, the SPICE 1000 and BNET as well as its Drone Dome counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) and its Tamir counter-rocket artillery and mortar (CRAM) interceptor at the 2019 Avalon show.

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is positioning for expansion in Australia following its suc...

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