Israel to have missile defense by year's end

PARIS [MENL] -- Israel's Arrow anti-missile defense system will become operational as early as September, a senior Israeli official says.

Defense Minister director-general Ilan Biran outlined to reporters Israel's plans to begin the deployment of Arrow in an effort to take about four years.

"Within three to six months, we expect to declare the system operational," Biran said on Tuesday. "The first battery of Arrow missiles will be established in 2001 and the country's main population centers, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem, will be covered by an interlocking system by 2005.

The Arrow is being displayed at the Paris air show and the system includes a mock-up of the missile as well as radar and other systems. Officials stressed that the joint U.S.-Israeli missile is not for sale.

Israel Aircraft Industries, Lod, and Tadiran Electronic Systems Ltd., Holon, are leading contractors in the Arrow project. Officials said the Arrow can intercept dozens of missile threats through its tracking and interception capabilities.

The U.S. Senate has approved several projects that deal with Israeli missile defense. One was an allocation of $42 million for a third battery of the Arrow. The other was $20 million for the development of an unmanned air vehicle to intercept enemy ballistic missiles.

The third project approved was a $15 million allocation to complete development of the Nautilus laser to destroy short-range rockets.