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Israel Military Industries [Israel] |
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World ranking: 73 Israel Military Industries, 64 Bialik Boulevard, PO Box 1044 or 6604, Ramat Hasharon, 47100, Israel BACKGROUND IMI is a state-owned military company. It has distributors and contacts in Western Europe and North America. 1 In Europe, IMI's small arms ammunition is sold under the name Samson.2 IMI in the UK In the UK, IMI lists the London-based Eurotaas (Eura) Ltd as its contact: Eurotaas (EUTA) Ltd, 12 York Gate, London NW1 4QS; Tel: + 44 (0) 208 458 6636 What it makes IMI manufactures small arms (including the Uzi submachine gun and Tavor and Galil rifles), grenades, tank, artillery and mortar ammunition, missiles, unmanned air vehicles, elec-tronics, rockets, aircraft equipment, chaff and flare dispensing systems and upgrades tanks.3 Exports IMI is a player on the global stage with 60% of its revenues, worth approximately $550 million, coming from exports4.Some of the export deasls are listed below. US: In October 1998, IMI agreed a joint venture with US company Primex Technologies in an effort to sell heavy ammunition in the US and worldwide. This was apparently at the direction of the Israeli Defence Ministry which has encouraged IMI to link up with foreign firms.5 Other collaborations with US companies include the development of a new shoulder launched multi-purpose assault weapon with Lockheed Martin. UK: IMI is reported to be the manufacturer of the British Army's L20 Extended Range Cluster Shells. 6 Each shell contains 49 M85 dual-purpose submunitions and has a failure rate of at least 2%. 7 Estimates by a UK MP indicate that between 2,000 and 17,000 UK-delivered submunitions remain unexploded in Iraq following the invasion in 2003.8 The bulk of these will be L20 submunitions. India: IMI has concluded a $30m agreement with India for 3,400 Tavor assault rifles and 200 Galil sniper rifles, as well as night vision and laser range-finding and targeting equip-ment.9 The opening of an office in Delhi strengthens IMI's links with India. Turkey: In late 2001, IMI won a $105m contract to co-produce helicopter Counter Measures Dispensing Systems with Turkish companies MKEK and Aselsan. 10 In March 2002, Turkey signed a $668m deal with IMI to modernise Turkey's fleet of US-made tanks. 11
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