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Israel successfully tests PAC-2 anti-missile system

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Friday, November 8, 2002

TEL AVIV Ñ Israel's military has completed what it termed a successful test of the PAC-2 anti-missile system.

The test was conducted against an unspecified target on Wednesday in southern Israel. Military sources said the PAC-2 fired two interceptors and destroyed the target.

The test was considered as a prelude to a demonstration in January by Israel and the United States in which a PAC-2 will try to intercept a Scud missile. The PAC-2 is based on the Patriot anti-aircraft system and was said to have failed to intercept any of the 42 Scud missiles fired by Iraq during the 1991 Gulf war.

""We have reached huge capability in the past year, building up the very unique Arrow and a lower layer of air defense provided by upgraded Patriots," Brig. Gen. Yair Dori, commander of Israel's air defense forces, said. "In 1991, we had virtually nothing. Now we have a very active, robust defense."

The test was deemed as part of an effort to ensure the readiness of PAC-2 batteries in Israel. Israel is said to have up to four such batteries.

They are meant to protect such cities as Tel Aviv, Haifa and Arad from Iraqi ballistic missiles. Iraq is said to have at least 25 Al Hussein medium-range missiles that can strike Israel.

Dori said his command, part of the Israel Air Force, has successfully integrated the PAC-2 with the Israeli Arrow-2 medium-tier anti-missile system. Israel has deployed one Arrow-2 battery and plans to complete preparations for a second battery by the end of the year.

The air defense commander said the United States is prepared to bolster Israel's missile defense capability. This would include a satellite link that would alert Israel to an Iraqi missile launch.

"When we will need the United States it will come through more effectively than it has in the past," Dori said.

In January, U.S. and Israeli air defense forces will hold a major exercise in January to demonstrate the interoperability of the PAC-2 with the Arrow-2 systems. The United States will bring three PAC-2 batteries as well as an Aegis-class destroyer to the exercise. The Israeli Haaretz daily reported on Friday that the U.S. Army plans to leave the PAC-2 batteries in the Jewish state.

A senior military source said the U.S. satellite link would provide Israel with up to six minutes of warning of any Iraqi missile strike. In the 1991 Gulf war, Israel was said to have been given one minute of warning.

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