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The recent arrival on Israel's border of the latest generation Russian air defence Related IHS Products Interested in subscribing to complete IHS content? Call
systems has "sharpened the mind" of Rafael as it looks to maintain the air force's IHS Jane's Security
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Speaking at the Paris Air Show, company representative Yuval M (his surname has
been withheld for security reasons at Rafael's request) said that, while Israel has
always had to contend with its neighbours fielding modern Soviet and Russian
weaponary, the recent deployment to Syria of the latest Russian ground-based systems
such as the S-400 Triumf (SA-21 'Growler') surface-to-air missile (SAM) launcher, as
well as the latest Russian combat aircraft, is driving Rafael's efforts to maintain the
Israeli Air Force's (IAF's) regional superiority.
"The guillotine sharpens the mind," said Yuval, adding, "Russia has sold air defence
systems to Syria for the past 30 years, so it is something that Israel has always had to
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6/22/2017 Paris Air Show 2017: Rafael driven by 'guillotine' of Russian air defences on Israel's border | Jane's 360
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deal with. We are in the most dense air defence region in the world, and the IAF has
always had to cope with this. What's different now is that we now have to deal directly
with the Russians [who are based in Syria]. The IAF must keep its freedom to operate,
and our challenge to give it its qualitative edge."
While the arrival in the region of the S-400 has focused the minds of the Israelis in
general and Rafael in particular, Yuri noted that it has been expected for a long time
and that the IAF is already equipped to deal with the threat. "The S-400 is not actually a
shock - we perceived the threat a few years ago as it was clear that at some point it
would be with our neighbours," Yuri said, noting, "We are always living on a sword and
so we need to keep on improving, [and the S-400] is a driver for developing new
technologies and capabilities."
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