Another view

Israel’s global technology leadership is essential for the protection of the West

About two years ago I became a little emotional while reading a Wall Street Journal article. Germany had announced an agreement to buy the Arrow 3 Anti-Ballistic Missile Interceptor (ABM) system from Israel. Sharon, my wife, asked, “Who gets emotional about missiles?” I do. That purchase meant that nearly 80 years after the liberation of Auschwitz the German government would be counting on Israel’s technology to prevent the destruction of Germany and the annihilation of the German people.

The Arrow 3 ABM system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles — for example, missiles carrying nuclear warheads from Russia. This Arrow 3 system contract is intended to protect Germany as well as Western Europe.

Why this story now? I am still trying to process the Israel-France incident that occurred during the Paris Air Show at the Paris-Le Bourget Airport in June, when the French government hung black drapes to hide the product displays of Israel’s leading aerospace and defense companies, IAI (Israel Aerospace Industry), Rafael and Elbit.

During my nearly 30-year career in the industry, I worked the Paris Air Show many times as the investor contact for a publicly traded aerospace and defense company. We had a display in the exhibit halls, so I can imagine how the event unfolded for the Israeli air show team. They left the Le Bourget site on Sunday after working days and spending a lot of money on their show display. On Monday, after driving through the normally heavy traffic from Paris to the old airport, the teams arrived at their respective exhibit hall displays to find their work had been blocked from view — and they didn’t know why.

I didn’t attend this year, since I am retired. According to the Air Show website, over 300,000 visitors roamed through the exhibit halls viewing 2400 displays from 48 countries. Russia and Iran were banned due to sanctions.

Draping a display is unprecedented. I heard a few reasons for the French government’s action. 1) They didn’t like the products that were on display at all three companies. 2) An editor for industry rag Aviation Week quipped during a podcast that the French are jealous of Israel’s technology leadership. 3) The French government was concerned that a protest of Israel would occur during the public day that began on Friday.

Smaller companies from Israel were permitted to display.

Those who have attended the Air Show know that the real business is conducted in company chalets, not in the exhibit halls. Our chalet consisted of several meeting rooms and a large dining area where we met with customers and investors.

Our company did a lot of business in Israel. Ami, who ran our Tel Aviv office, arranged a tour of Israel’s chalet for a few of us each year that the Air Show was in Paris. Israel usually has a big commercial aerospace and defense presence during the Paris Air Show. The products displayed in Israel’s chalet were memorable — mostly unrivaled technology.

The three Israeli companies whose products were banned from view at this year’s Paris Air Show have an essential role in protecting the West.

The Arrow 3 ABM system is manufactured by IAI. Rafael and Raytheon Missiles & Defense have announced that their joint venture facility in Arkansas expects to produce the Iron Dome Tamir missile and the U.S. version, Sky Hunter missile, used by the U.S. and its allies. Raytheon and Rafael also produce the David’s Sling system. The publicly traded Elbit’s global presence resulted in reported 2024 sales of 27% in Europe, 22% of sales in North America and 29% of sales in Israel.

I am neither qualified nor interested in having a political or philosophical debate on this matter. It is what it is. I pray for peace. I hope for some level of stability.

One more fact of interest: A significant number of global leaders in the cybersecurity field that defend the world’s biggest companies and their customers were founded by alumni of IDF’s Unit 8200.

Palo Alto Networks, Check Point Software, Cyber Ark Software, and Wiz (recently purchased by Google for $32 billion) are among the better-known global cybersecurity leaders.

My point is that Israel’s global technology leadership is essential for the protection of the West. PJC

Danny Greenfield retired as VP Investor Relations & Corporate Communications at ATI. He has nearly 50 years of experience in global manufacturing.