Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is in negotiations with Israel over the upgrading of its three squadrons of Chengdu F-7M fighters.
Elbit is proposing to upgrade the 36 Myanmar aircraft along broadly similar lines to its update of the Romanian air force's Mikoyan MiG-21 Fishbeds, dubbed the MiG-21MFLancer.
It is possible that Aerostar, Elbit's partner in the MiG-21 upgrade programme in Romania, will also participate in the project if the Myanmar deal is concluded.
US Government reaction to the deal is unclear. Washington may attempt to dissuade Israel from pursuing the upgrade as it has been trying to limit the export of arms to Myanmar in protest over the human-rights record of the South-East Asian country.
The upgrade would be likely to include the Elta EL/M-2032 multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar, although Myanmar could opt for the EL/M-2001 if the aircraft were to be optimised for the ground-attack role.
The Romanian MiG-21 upgrade also includes the Rafael Python 3 infra-red-guided short-range air-to-air missile, as well as Rafael's Litening laser-designator pod and Israeli laser-guided free-fall bombs. The choice of weapons for the Myanmar upgrade has yet to be determined, although the topic is now under discussion.
Elbit has also offered at least one squadron of upgraded Aero L-39 trainers to the Myanmar air force. The company has an agreement with Aero Vodochody to market an upgraded version of the Czech-made trainer.
Source: Flight International
