Israeli arms sales decline in Singapore

January 14, 2000.

ISRAELI defence officials are predicting a significant downturn among its major customers, particularly in East Asia according to a Jane's Defence Weekly report (Nov 17, 1999).

The biggest change will take place in Singapore, Israel's largest customer for a decade, which has now allowed Western and regional competitors to obtain a larger slice of the market, the report said.

The reason for the Israeli decline in Singapore, the sources said, is a new leadership n Singapore that has opened up the once-secretive military establishment and has invited competitors.

Israel expects to continue its prominence in Singapore but expects to sell less defence equipment and concentrate on the transfer of technology and development of Singapore's defence industry.

"We are making great efforts to preserve this business," a defence source told Jane's Defence Weekly. "But it is clear that we are not the only supplier."

The report said, next year's goal will be to upgrade and install subsystems aboard Western-built aircraft, such as US Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters and Boeing AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, and ships bought by Singapore.