South Africa's proposed sale of military equipment to Syria is seriously jeopardising its relationship with long-term military collaborator Israel.
In terms of negotiations, the most advanced element of the package covers the purchase of an advanced tank-gun-sighting system, although US and Israeli sources claim that Syria has also expressed an interest in combat-aircraft electronic-warfare equipment and air-launched missiles.
Israel has closed its arms trade legation in Pretoria, ostensibly because of a lack of sales. Well-placed sources, however, indicate that this gesture was intended to signal Israel's displeasure at South Africa's overtures to Syria.
Israel is also considering appealing to the USA in an attempt to block the deal. The US State Department is understood to have already asked South Africa to reconsider its willingness to sell defence material to Syria.
Israel's concern is sparked by the fact that it has previously collaborated closely with South Africa during its apartheid years in developing advanced weapons. One of the largest deals was to carry out a "mid-life upgrade" on the South African Cheetah fighters, providing advanced avionics, radar and weapons.
Rafael's Python 3 short-range air-to-air missile (AAM) was also supplied to South Africa, while Rafael and Kentron have collaborated in the development of an active medium-range AAM.
Source: Flight International