Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has been selected to provide weapons systems to the Australian Defence Force, The Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday.

The announcement was made by Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne at a ceremony marking the creation of  VRA Systems, which is a joint venture between Rafael and Australia’s Varley Group.

VRA Systems CEO Jacob Blitman said that the new company will initially employ 70 people and hopes eventually to employ hundreds more.

Blitman said, “VRA aims to maximize the proportion of Spike LR2 componentry produced in Australia and deliver through life in service support, making use of our reach-back to Rafael’s research and development network in Israel.”

The Spike is a Rafael-designed anti-tank system, that will be produced for the ADF. It will be used on the ADF’s new Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles.

In addition to the Spike, Australia is set to purchase the Trophy Active Protection System from Rafael to protect its armored vehicles. Australia is the second nation, after the United States, to purchase Trophy systems.

During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, Israeli tanks operating in Gaza protected by Trophy systems suffered no losses.

Other Rafael systems that will be produced by VRA for the ADF include the  Tamir counter-rocket, artillery and missile interceptor, and the Torbuster anti-torpedo defense for submarines.

“This partnership between one of Australia’s best defence companies and a global success story like Rafael is another success story for Australian industry,” Pyne said in announcing the creation of VRA.

“This will bring IP, know-how and advanced manufacturing techniques to Australia to produce capability for use by the ADF with the potential for export to our friends and allies”.

[Photo: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd / YouTube ]