In a July 11 briefing to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense
Committee, Barak outlined Israel's BMD needs, Middle East Newsline reported. He cited existing programs
such as the Arrow-3 as well as new assets, including the short-range Iron
Dome and the longer-range Magic Wand.
"If Israel were to complete equipping itself with all layers of
interceptors — Iron Dome, Magic Wand and Arrow — with an estimated
investment of seven billion shekel [$2.05 billion] spread across 20 years
that could
bring a substantial change for the better in Israel's strategic balance in
the region," Barak said.
Officials said Iron Dome, designed to intercept missiles and rockets
with a range of up to 80 kilometers, was scheduled for full deployment by
2012. Magic Wand was expected to be introduced over the next year. Both
systems were produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, with the U.S. firm
Raytheon contributing to Magic Wand.
In the briefing, Barak outlined the missile threat to Israel. He said
Israel's adversaries, including Hamas, Hizbullah, Iran and Syria, were
capable of firing up to 50 ballistic missiles per day.
In contrast, the defense minister, said, Israel could fire more than
1,500 missiles. Barak said Israeli missiles were more far more accurate than
those of the adversaries.
"On an average day of warfare around 50 tons of explosives are expected
to fall on Israel from scattered weapons," Barak said. "We in turn are
capable of firing 1,500 tons but in a very precise way."
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