[MakkabI]
August 1st, 2004, 07:06 AM
The largest-ever Israeli-Polish arms deal is currently underway between the two countries, a senior Polish defense official said.
The deal, whereby Poland will purchase about 1,300 anti-tank 'Spike' missiles from Raphael as part of the Polish Army's ongoing modernizations of its forces, costs several hundred million dollars, said the Polish Undersecretary of State in the Defense Ministry, Janusz Zemke in an interview.
"We have launched production of the agreement whereby Raphael will produce what we consider to be the most modern antitank missiles in the world," Zemke said.
The first 24 missiles will be produced in Poland this year, he added, in what is slated to be a nine-year project.
With a 95 percent accuracy level, the laser-guided missile, replete with a camera in its war-head, can operate in all weather conditions and can destroy "any target," Zemke added.
"It can pierce any available armor in the world," he said.
The arms deal between Israel and Poland is the largest deal reached between the two countries since the establishment of relations over a decade ago, and comes in the wake of ever-increasing defense ties, including the sharing of a variety of intelligence information in the realm of counter-terrorism.
The deal, whereby Poland will purchase about 1,300 anti-tank 'Spike' missiles from Raphael as part of the Polish Army's ongoing modernizations of its forces, costs several hundred million dollars, said the Polish Undersecretary of State in the Defense Ministry, Janusz Zemke in an interview.
"We have launched production of the agreement whereby Raphael will produce what we consider to be the most modern antitank missiles in the world," Zemke said.
The first 24 missiles will be produced in Poland this year, he added, in what is slated to be a nine-year project.
With a 95 percent accuracy level, the laser-guided missile, replete with a camera in its war-head, can operate in all weather conditions and can destroy "any target," Zemke added.
"It can pierce any available armor in the world," he said.
The arms deal between Israel and Poland is the largest deal reached between the two countries since the establishment of relations over a decade ago, and comes in the wake of ever-increasing defense ties, including the sharing of a variety of intelligence information in the realm of counter-terrorism.