Aircraft
Flurry of recent export orders bolsters Israel Aerospace sales
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) hopes that new export orders, such as a $50 million deal to supply unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia, will bolste

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) hopes that new export orders, such as a $50 million deal to supply unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia, will bolster sales that dipped by 24 percent during the first quarter of 2009. The contract, which includes a mix of Bird-Eye 400 mini-UAVs, the I-view MK150 tactical UAVs and the Searcher Mk II medium-range UAVs, was finalized in April after Russia agreed to stop the sale of its Mikoyan MiG-31 fighters to Syria.

Deliveries are expected before year-end. Later the deal could be extended to cover the long-range Heron UAV, which will give Russian forces airborne endurance of more than 50 hours at altitudes of 35,000 feet.