Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, , 3:16:17 to 3:20:36
Debate over the potential use of Israeli-derived technology in missile defense systems and whether political sensitivities affect procurement decisions.
Topics: Procurement, National security
Speakers: James Paterson, Meghan Quinn, Racheal Kuczma, Hon Murray Watt, Raff Ciccone
among the FMS capabilities we're considering is a technology based it's now in the United States but based on Israeli technology part of iron dome I think the OEM is Raphael. Is that
We are looking at the Emer system which is a Rathon version that works with with some of the technologies that are coming from Raphael.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So would Raphael be involved in delivering this capability if we went down that road?
>> It's will be delivered under an FMS system. So the the PNA is to the US government. So how how the industrial base >> kind of cooperates in that it we are very long way away from that. So we don't have visibility.
>> But the US capability it's a joint
venture isn't it? Yeah, I think it is. Yeah, to my knowledge, but that's a US-based system, but to my knowledge, it is a joint venture.
>> Yeah. So, if Raphael uh and Rathon are delivering a JV to deliver this capability to the US, and we are looking at that capability for us, uh is it possible or likely that Raphael will be involved in delivering it to us as well.
>> So, I just note that that's a hypothetical that we're not at that stage yet. Um we we are going through the process of market development. All of those considerations will be part of government deliberations.
>> Okay. The reporting by Mr. Pacham in the Australian today suggests that you know there's a risk of political interference because of the Israeli origins of uh this technology. Can you reassure me that if the best capability happens to be derived from Israeli technology that that won't be a barrier to deploying it
for the ADF? So we we can't give you any uh kind of absolutes around government decision-making senator as you understand. We provide the best advice. We provide all the information and then it's a matter for government decision-making.
>> Sure. But I'm I'm what the reassurance I'm seeking is that if it is the best capability that it won't be discriminated against or banned just because it's Israeli origin that the government and defense will choose the best capability that we can get the
under direction of the government. Uh we will be we we provide the best available information based on the parameters that we've asked to provide that advice on.
>> That's not instilling me with confidence. I
>> I cannot give you an absolute about a hypothetical in future.
>> Sure. But like I I would have thought it was relatively easy and maybe it's more appropriate for the minister rather than the secretary to do this to say of course we will not choose an inferior capability because of sensitivity about the nationality source origin of the technology. Of course we will always give the best capability to the men and
women of the ADF. I I just want to be clear, we do place uh restrictions uh for a whole bunch of national security on some capabilities because of the uh security implications
>> and I'm first to encourage you to do that, but that's an operational consideration, not a political consideration, and that's what I'm trying to get to the heart of. Um I'm not advocating buying Chinese integrated area missile defense. Obviously, uh there are very good operational reasons why we shouldn't do that. Um but uh I'm I'm what I'm seeking given the you know defense industry holds this belief that there is a shadow ban on Israeli technology that the ADF will not buy that the defense will not recommend because of the political sensitivities around Israel and the bilateral relationship. So I'm just seeking your reassurance I'm not reassured so far that for political sensitivities of the origin of the technology would not be a consideration. We would we would focus on what is the most the best capability that we can get
Look, I think as a as a general proposition, what I can say is that the government will always seek to deliver the most suitable military technology
>> regardless of the country of origin.
>> I've given you the general proposition, the most we will we will always seek to deliver the most suitable technology available.
>> So, if it happens to be Israeli origin, it won't be excluded for that reason.
>> If there's anything I can add to what I've said, I'll I'll add that.
>> Okay. I'm not sure that will um instill confidence in people bidding this Um chair, I'm conscious you may need to share the call before I move on to other topics.
>> Uh I'll do that and I'll come back to you. I think Senator Payman's been waiting there. So I'll come to you Senator Payman then I'll depending on others I might come back to you Senator