-Caveat Lector-
>From http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020702-92332036.htm
}}}>Begin
The Washington Times
www.washtimes.com
China deploys drones from Israel
Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published 7/2/2002
U.S. intelligence agencies have identified an Israeli-made anti-radar weapon
deployed with Chinese forces opposite Taiwan, The Washington Times has learned.
Several "Harpy" drone weapons were spotted with Chinese military forces
engaged in large-scale exercises in southern Fujian province opposite Taiwan, said
defense officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
"The Chinese were observed moving them close to the coast," said one official,
who declined to say how many of the weapons were seen.
The Harpy is an unmanned weapon equipped with anti-radar sensors and a
bomb. The weapon flies near a target radar for up to two hours and once illuminated
by electronic waves is guided to the target and explodes.
U.S. intelligence officials said the Harpys identified with Chinese forces were
equipped with anti-radar bomb systems and were not reconnaissance drones.
China's military has been engaged in large-scale military exercises opposite
Taiwan for the past several weeks. At least 100,000 troops have been deployed in
exercises near Dongshan island along the Chinese coast.
Doron Suslik, a spokesman for the division of Israel Aircraft Industries that
manufactures the Harpy, declined to comment in an e-mail message when asked
whether the company sold the drone to China.
A CIA spokesman declined to comment on reports of China's acquisition of the
Israeli weapon.
The propeller-driven Harpy system has been in use by Israel's military for
decades and was first used during the 1973 Middle East war.
The drone has a 6-foot wingspan, is 7 feet long and can loiter over a target for
more than two hours before attacking. It has a range of up to 210 miles and a high-
explosive warhead weighing about 48 pounds.
According to defense analysts, South Korea purchased 100 Harpys in 1997. The
Indian armed forces also have the weapon.
Disclosure of the Harpy deployment by China comes as Beijing last week test-
fired a new Russian-made air-to-air missile, which also is a new weapons capability
for Beijing in its standoff with Taiwan.
Richard Fisher, a specialist on the Chinese military, said the Harpy is a new
capability for the Chinese military, which also has Russian-made anti-radar missiles.
"This is only an offensive weapon, and on the Taiwan Strait it is a particularly
threatening device," Mr. Fisher said in an interview. "Its only purpose is to take out
Taiwan's electric eyes and ears and to make Taiwan vulnerable to Chinese missiles
and bombs."
China has threatened to use force to reunite the island with the mainland if
Taiwan's government were to declare formal independence.
Israel Aircraft Industries stated on its Web site that the Harpy system "is
currently operational with several air forces, and is the only existing operation
attack
[unmanned aerial vehicle] system." The drone is launched from a vehicle.
Israel in recent years has become a major supplier of weapons and weapons
technology to China.
Israel's government stopped the sale of four Israeli airborne warning-and-control
aircraft known as Phalcon in 2000 under pressure from the United States.
In 1992, the Pentagon investigated intelligence reports that Israel covertly
exported U.S. Patriot missile technology to China. Israel and China denied the
reports. U.S. intelligence officials were convinced the transfer took place.
Several weeks ago, a Chinese government technical journal stated in an article
that it is possible to defeat the Patriot anti-missile systems by calculating the
"optimum ejection altitude for the cargo projectile to avoid its being intercepted."
U.S. officials said the article, which contained detailed technical specifications
for the Patriot, such as speed and intercept capabilities, is a sign that China has
obtained technical details of the missile system.
The United States deployed Patriots to Israel during the 1991 Persian Gulf war.
Former CIA Director Robert Gates said in 1993 that he believed that China had
acquired the Patriot technology, but government officials were divided about
whether Israel had secretly supplied it.
In another case of China-Israel military cooperation, a classified Defense
Intelligence Agency report stated in 1999 that Israel was suspected of sharing
restricted U.S. weapons technology with China related to a battlefield laser gun.
Israeli agents attempted to obtain embargoed weapons know-how from U.S.
defense contractors on the Tactical High-Energy Laser, known as THEL, the report
said.
The DIA also stated that Israeli officials from the government-run Rafael arms
company obtained restricted technology from U.S. defense contractor TRW in 1996.
The suspicions about the THEL weapons-technology transfer to China were
based on reports from U.S. contractors in Israel who saw Chinese technicians
working with one of the Israeli companies involved in the laser program and from a
Chinese official with knowledge of the THEL.
The Israelis had been trying to obtain the source codes for the laser's computer-
targeting software so that the range of the weapon could be increased, U.S. officials
said.
The DIA report stated that Israel Aircraft Industries had offered transfers of
restricted weapons technology to foreign customers to try to conclude weapons
deals. "IAI has transferred technology to China, possibly including U.S.-supplied
technology," the 1999 report said.
The discovery is likely to raise questions about whether the weapons contain
U.S. technology, defense officials said.
The U.S. government imposed an embargo on weapons and weapon-related
sales to China after Beijing's military crackdown in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
Copyright © 2002 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Return to the article
End<{{{
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forwarded as information only; no automatic endorsement
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it."
The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
teach you to keep your mouth shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
