BICOM

One of the most senior officers in Israel’s Air Force (IAF) has warned of a growing threat to Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region, due to a burgeoning arms race in the increasingly unstable Middle East.

Brig. Gen. Tal Kalman, chief of staff of the air force, was speaking yesterday at the annual conference of the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies. He said that, “There are countries here which have plans that are being actualized for arms deals in the hundreds of billions of dollars, for the most advanced Western weaponry and the most advanced Eastern weaponry.” Kalman explained that, “There is a potential here for the erosion of the IDF’s qualitative edge and the IAF’s qualitative edge.”

Israel’s defence doctrine demands a military edge over all other countries in the region and US leaders have pledged to help maintain this status quo. Kalman’s comments come with talks taking place over a new ten-year US military aid package to Israel. The defence package is worth more than £2 billion, but is due to expire in 2017. Apparently gaps still exist on the financial extent of the new deal and the military hardware it will include.

Israel is thought to have previously expressed concern over the extent of US military aid to Gulf states and Egypt, although these countries share similar apprehension over Iran’s regional influence. Kalman implied such concerns yesterday, saying, “There is a very great danger here, because today’s enemy can be tomorrow’s friend, and today’s friend could be tomorrow’s enemy.”

He also addressed the threat posed by Iran, which has agreed a deal to purchase the advanced Russian S-300 air defence system. He said, “The nuclear deal pushed back the nuclear threat, but [Iran] provides much of the resources and weapons that are given to the organisations working against the State of Israel.” He added, “In my opinion, this threat will be with us for the next decade at least.”