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.