Finmeccanica subsidiary, Selex Galileo, makes the radar for this built by ’s Finmeccanica largest war industry, .

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inmeccanica was formed in “Hermes” 900 1948 by merging all of the Fstate-owned mechanical and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). on Turkey’s “ATAK Helicopter.” shipbuilding companies that had been These UAVs, the “Hermes” 450 and Finmeccanica’s SELEX Com- acquired by Italy’s fascist government 900, are made by Israel’s top war in- munications announced in 2010 that it since 1933 through its Institute for In- dustry, Elbit Systems. (See pp.28-29.) had integrated the broadband wireless dustrial Reconstruction. The “Hermes” 450 is designed for tac- network technology from Israel’s Max- With over US$42 billion in as- tical missions of up to 20 hours, while Tech Ltd. into a handheld radio com- sets, Finmeccanica is Italy’s largest the larger “Hermes” 900 version can munications device to deliver voice, high-tech industry. Still owned in part fly for 30 hours without refuelling. Be- data and video messages for military (30%) by Italy’s government, the firm’s sides using the “Hermes” 450 for re- users. MaxTech makes the Snipetech military revenues surpassed US$14.4 connaissance/surveillance operations, “Sniper Coordination System” and says billion in 2010, making it the world’s Israel’s Air Force has equipped them its “clients include elite forces and 8th largest war industry. Finmeccanica with missiles for air strikes, including SWAT [Special Weapons and Tactics] has steadily climbed these ranks since political assassinations. Israel’s use of units of the Israeli Defense Forces.” 2000, when it was the world’s 28th larg- these armed UAVs includes numerous est war industry. Making everything attacks on Gaza, as well as against References from complete Lebanon (2006) and Sudan (2009). Is- Top 100 Defense Contractors, Defense News www.defensenews.com warplanes and rael’s “Hermes” 900s will presumably Annual Report 2010 helicopters to also be weaponised for such missions. www.finmeccanica.com/EN/Common/files/Corporate/ satellites and Finmeccanica is the main con- Bilanci_Presentazioni/Bilancio_e_Presentazioni_2011/ electronics for tractor in Italy involved in building the BILANCIO_CONSOLIDATO_2010_ENG.pdf many weapons F-35 “Joint Strike Fighter,” which Is- Finmeccanica, Wikipedia systems, almost rael is scheduled to receive from prime en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finmeccanica 60% of its rev- contractor, Lockheed Martin. (See ta- Contracts to Finmeccanica Group, Inc. www.fedspending.org/fpds/search.php enue is military ble, “CPP Investments,” p.53.) Three related. Finmeccanica units are involved: Top 100 Defense Contractors, Gov’t Executive www.govexec.com Finmec- (1) SELEX Galileo is building the Tom Kington, “Selex Galileo Radar Selected for canica’s sales to electro-optical targeting systems to di- Hermes UAV,” June 29, 2011. the US govern- rect the F-35’s laser-guided weapons. www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=6951699&c=EUR ment are almost (2) SELEX Communications is Elbit Hermes 450, Wikipedia Israel’s MaxTech, entirely military making the F-35’s UHF radio system, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbit_Hermes_450 which makes SnipeTech related. Be- navigation equipment, cockpit panels Elbit Hermes 900, Wikipedia communications tween 2000 and and lighting system. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbit_Hermes_900 devices for snipers, 2009, it had US (3) Alenia Aeronautica is design- F-35 Lightning II – JSF (Joint Strike Fighter): uses Finmeccanica’s government ing and producing the F-35’s wings. international co-operation for the fifth genera- contracts worth In February 2012, Israel’s Min- tion multirole fighter, April 2010. wireless network www.finmeccanica.it/EN/Common/files/Corporate/ technology. US$10.9 bil- istry of Defense announced a US$1 bil- Press_Kit/Programmi/JSF_2010_ING.pdf lion. Of these, lion deal to buy thirty M346 “Master” “Italy’s Alenia to Sell Israel 30 M-346 Training US$10.8 billion (99%) were with mili- advanced combat training jets from Fin- Jets,” Defense News, February 16, 2012. tary clients, most notably the Army meccanica’s Alenia Aeronautica. www.defensenews.com/article/20120216/DEFREG01/ 302160003 (67%), Air Force (16%) and Navy Finmeccanica has long had part- (9%). In the 2000s, Finmeccanica made nerships with Israeli military industries. IAI/Tamam Division & Agusta are Teaming for the Atak Helicpter Program in Turkey, June10, 1999. it onto the Pentagon’s top 100 list twice, As early as 1999, Agusta un’Azienda www.iai.co.il/16726-23476-en/MediaRoom_ in 2008 and 2009, when it ranked 23rd Finmeccanica was collaborating with NewsArchives_1999.aspx?PageNum=4 and 26th, respectively. the Israeli Aerospace Industry (IAI). Case Study, Selex Communications One of Finmeccanica’s units, (See “State-owned Israeli War Indus- www.maxtechnetworks.com/case_study/Default.aspx Selex Galileo, is providing its Gabbi- tries,” pp.48-49.) Finmeccanica’s part- About Snipetech ano radar for two versions of an Israeli nership was with IAI’s Tamam Division www.maxtechtechnology.com/ 34 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 66) Spring 2012