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Existing anti-missile systems leave Israeli communities vulnerable

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, December 13, 2006

TEL AVIV — The Defense Ministry has determined a requirement for the development and procurement of a rocket defense system by mid-2008.

Officials said a ministry panel led by director-general Gabi Ashkenazi required that any defense system against short- and medium-range rockets and missiles must be available within two years and cost no more than $300 million for initial deployment.

[On Tuesday, Palestinian gunners fired at least five Kassam missiles into Israel, Middle East Newsline reported. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel would not respond.]

"We will have a defense system against the Kassams within 18 months, maximum two years," Defense Minister Amir Peretz said.

Officials said the requirements would rule out a U.S.-origin laser weapon designed to destroy incoming missiles and rockets, such as the Palestinian Kassam and the Hizbullah-acquired Katyusha. They said the Skyguard laser system developed by Northrop Grumman required at least $150 million in development costs.

"Currently, Skyguard could not protect any civilian community," an official said. "It remains a point-based defense system."

The official said the ministry has concluded that the U.S. chemical-laser system was capable of defending an area of no more than three square kilometers. He said Northrop Grumman said the protection zone could be enlarged to eight kilometers. The ministry has sought a system that could protect an area of 10 kilometers.

At this point, officials said, the most attractive option presented to the Defense Ministry was by Rafael, Israel Armament Development Authority. Rafael has offered to develop a kinetic interceptor based on the Python-5 air-to-air missile.

Under the proposal, Rafael would also develop a solid-state laser weapon based on the Tactical High-Energy Laser, a joint Israel-U.S. program canceled in 2005. Rafael was a major contractor in THEL and the subsequent M-THEL.

In mid-November the ministry and military decided that the Israel Air Force would procure and operate any rocket defense system. The decision was opposed by the Ground Forces Command.


Copyright © 2006 East West Services, Inc.

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