Israel arms exports up in 2010

Israeli arms exports rose in 2010 to $7.2 billion, up $300 million from the previous year "despite the global economic crisis," Israel's defence ministry said on Thursday. Orders also rose from $17.3 billion in 2009 to $18.8 billion in 2010, a ministry statement said. "Despite the global economic crisis, Israel's military industries have experienced a period of stability and growth and made a very important contribution to the national economy," said ministry director Udi Shani. He said the recent success of the Iron Dome rocket interception system "could be an additional, significant stimulant for Israeli military exports." Israel deployed the system's first battery on March 27 near the southern city of Beersheva and a second battery was deployed near Ashkelon on April 4. Just three days later, it passed its first test when it intercepted rockets from Gaza. Israel has said it plans to invest another billion dollars in the system, which is developed by the publicly owned Rafael Defence Systems and partly financed by the United States. The figures were released shortly before the Paris Air Show, the world's leading aviation and space event which begins on Monday. Israel has spent $1.7 million on its stand, which will be the fifth largest at the show, behind those of France, the United States, Italy and Britain. The stand will present various drones and different aerial defence systems, including a mobile version of Iron Dome, as well as a battery from another rocket interception system called "Magic Wand." Avi Hefetz, director general of the Israeli Exports Institute, said Israel's exports of civil aviation goods, including control systems, radar and maintenance operations reached $1 billion last year -- 14 percent of all foreign sales in the military sector. "The goal of the institute is to raise civilian exports to 30 percent over three years and to boost the number of businesses active in this sector," he said. Israel's air and space sector currently numbers at least 150 companies which employ 44,000 people, according to Hefetz.