Israel Military developments

[youngindian]

Turkey Denies Cancelling Military Drill over Israeli Participation

12 October 2009


Turkey's Foreign Ministry has denied that it canceled this week's international air force exercise over opposition to Israel's participation.

The ministry said Monday the cancellation was "not political," and urged Israeli officials to approach the situation with common sense.

Israeli military officials said Saturday Turkey canceled the Anatolian Eagle exercise because it wanted to exclude the Israeli air force from taking part in the drill. The military exercise also was scheduled to include U.S., Italian and NATO forces.

Turkey and Israel have had close ties, but their relations have been uneven since Israeli forces clashed with Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip at the beginning of this year.

Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized the Israeli campaign in the Palestinian territory.

Turkey has also played a role in trying to restart peace talks between Israel and Syria, but those contacts broke down last year.

VOA News - Turkey Denies Cancelling Military Drill over Israeli Participation

 

[youngindian]

Netanyahu: Israel will not allow its leaders or troops to be put on trial for war cri

October 12, 2009

JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed never to allow Israeli leaders or soldiers to stand trial on war crimes charges over their actions during last winter's military offensive in the Gaza Strip, furiously denouncing a U.N. report in a keynote address to parliament.

Netanyahu's fiery rhetoric — and his decision to open the high-profile speech with remarks on the report — reflected the deep distress felt among Israeli leaders after a U.N. commission accused Israel of intentionally harming civilians when it launched a massive attack in Gaza to stop years of rocket fire.

"This distorted report, written by this distorted committee, undermines Israel's right to defend itself. This report encourages terrorism and threatens peace," Netanyahu said in his address at the opening of parliament's winter session. "Israel will not take risks for peace if it can't defend itself."

The U.N. report, compiled by a team led by former war crimes prosecutor Richard Goldstone, accused Israel of using disproportionate force, deliberately targeting civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure during a three-week offensive against Hamas militants last winter. The report also accused Hamas of war crimes by deliberately targeting civilians and trying to spread terror with rocket attacks.

Israeli officials across the board have condemned the report, saying their country had little choice but to take harsh action against militants who were terrorizing southern Israel. They also blame Hamas for civilian casualties, saying the Islamic militant group took cover in residential areas during the fighting. However, Goldstone's strong credentials as a respected South African jurist, his Jewish faith and past support for Israeli causes have made it hard for Israel to dismiss the claims.

Netanyahu: Israel will not allow its leaders or troops to be put on trial for war crimes | StarTribune.com

 

[youngindian]

Israel offers pilotless aircraft to Czech military

13.10.2009

Prague - Israel is offering pilotless reconnaissance planes and anti-terrorism computer technologies to the Czech military, Czech Defence Minister Martin Bartak told CTK after today's talks with his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak.

Till the end of November, the Czech military is to purchase two sets of U.S. RQ-11 Raven remote-controlled miniature unmanned aerial vehicles for 20 million crowns.

According to the iDnes.cz server, the sets contain a total of six planes, including all technical logistics.

Bartak said today that the Israeli military was offering small pilotless aircraft.

Bartak held talks on the purchase with his Israeli counterpart a month ago.

He told journalists that Israel was prepared to cooperate in many fields. Without giving any details, he said that Israel could help Czech soldiers in foreign missions, particularly in Afghanistan.

The Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team(PRT) and a Czech anti-terrorist unit operate in Afghanistan.

At the beginning of September, the two ministers signed in Israel a memorandum on understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries' defence forces.

The agreement sets the framework for exchange of information in security area, cooperation on research armament projects and training of the two countries' army's units on the territory of the other state.

Bartak today said that Israel was also offering Czechs cooperation in testing an armoured vehicle on the chassis made by the Czech Tatra vehicle producer.

Bartak, Barak and Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer today also discussed the situation in Iran.

According to Bartak, Israel will have a "component of missile defence system" on its territory.

Barak said today that Iran was a challenge for the whole world and not only for Israel.

According to the Israeli press, Iran knows how to make an atomic bomb and is working on the missile system capable of carrying nuclear heads.

According to Barak,it is necessary that international community prevent the possible production of nuclear weapons by Iran because Iran could be a real threat.

If international pressure failed Israel would consider further steps, Barak said.

Israel offers pilotless aircraft to Czech military - ?eskéNoviny.cz

 

[RPK]

Israel to join NATO Mediterranean patrols: Military

Jerusalem: The Israeli navy will join a NATO force patrolling the Mediterranean Sea as part of the "global war on terror," a military spokesman said on Tuesday.


The spokesman confirmed a report by the Maariv newspaper which said the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters last week approved the Israeli Navy's inclusion in Operation Active Endeavour.

"The navy will participate in the activities," the spokesman said. The announcement came as a major boost just days after Turkey scrapped a joint aerial exercise that was to have included Israel, Maariv said.

Bilateral relations have taken a downturn since Israel launched a devastating military offensive in Gaza in December.

Operation Active Endeavour was launched one month after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

As part of the operation, NATO ships patrol the Mediterranean to monitor shipping "to help detect, deter and protect against terrorist activity," according to the transatlantic alliance.

Task Force Endeavour consists of surface units, submarines and patrol aircraft and regularly uses frigate forces.

 

[youngindian]

Turkish paper: UAV delivery delay behind cancellation of military drill

10.14.09

What spurred the cancellation of this week's NATO air force exercise in Turkey was a delay in the delivery of unmanned aerial vehicles to Turkey by Israel, and not Turkish objection to Israel's conduct in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, an air force official told Turkey's Zaman newspaper on Wednesday.


The source told the paper: "Turkey needs those vehicles in its fight against terror. What led to the recent crisis between Turkey and Israel was the delay in the delivery."
The UAVs in question are the Israeli-made "Heron" surveillance drones.

According to the report, Turkey purchased 10 UAVs four years ago, for the price of $180 million from the Israeli Aerospace Industries and a private company.

The source said Turkish Chief of Staff Ilker Basbug expressed his concerns over the delay with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting last month.

The source said Erdogan had promised to back any sanctions the Turkish military would impose on Israel for the delay, adding, "The General Staff asked Israeli authorities one last time about the delivery of the Herons. Israeli authorities refused to give an exact date and said they planned to deliver the vehicles by the end of 2009, whereupon the General Staff decided to cancel the international part of the exercises.”

However, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu admitted on Monday that Operation Cast Lead was the reason for the cancellation of the joint military exercise.

In response to a question by CNN, the minister said, "In the current situation, it is obvious that we condemn Israel's attitude."

Israel was displeased with the cancellation, and Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said on Tuesday that the Turks must come to their senses. "The deterioration in ties with Turkey in recent days is futile and even harmless. I hope the Turks come to their senses."

The minister added, "Turkey is an important ally, an important Muslim state with important strategic ties with Israel. This alliance is no less important to them than it is to us."

Turkish paper: UAV delivery delay behind cancellation of military drill - Israel News, Ynetnews

 

[youngindian]

Israeli Military Chief: Fight for Decisive Victory

14 Oct 2009

SHIZAFON ARMY BASE, Israel - The chances are "not small" that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) again will be called into battle, and when combat begins, there must be no question as to the outcome of operations, the nation's top commander here said Oct. 13.

"Today, we enjoy relative quiet, but I can't say for how long it will remain that way ... If we act, we need to operate in a way that there won't be any questions about who won and who lost," said Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, IDF chief of general staff.Speaking to new Armor Corps officers at this Negev desert training base, Ashkenazi said fighting spirit and front-line equipment - as important as they are - are insufficient for achieving what he termed decisive victory.

"It's not enough if we are infused with the IDF spirit, and it's not enough to have Merkava MkIV [tanks]," he said. "We need to have the knowledge and the judgment to lead people into battle."

Ashkenaziand Maj. Gen. Sami Turgeman, the IDF's new Land Forces Command chief, and other senior officers monitored a demonstration of combined arms maneuvering warfare, the culmination of an intensive seven-month officer's course held here at the IDF's Armor School.

Combat disciplines participating in the demonstration included armor, combat engineers, artillery, infantry and field intelligence, all supported by Air Force F-16s, Cobra attack helicopters, utility helicopters, a C-130 aircraft and anti-aircraft units.

As for equipment, the demonstration featured a number of systems deployed in combat earlier this year in the Gaza Strip, including Mk4 tanks equipped with the Trophy active protection system and connected, via the Ma'anak command-and-control system, to the Army's digitized C4I network.

Other relatively new technologies included the Gil anti-tank missile, the Carpet fuel air explosive mine-breaching system, the Skylark tactical battalion-level UAV and the man-portable Matador door-buster.

While Ashkenazi expressed satisfaction with the demonstrated abilities of the new officers, he warned, "Here it was easy. You did a lot of rehearsals and dry runs, but the enemy was not here.

"It's a heavy responsibility to be a commander in the IDF, because we are a fighting army. ... We're either in a war or preparing for war."

Israeli Military Chief: Fight for Decisive Victory - Defense News

 

[youngindian]

'Israel may attack Iran after December'

Oct 15, 2009

Israel is making preparations to carry out military attacks in Iran after December, a French magazine reported overnight Wednesday.According to a report in Le Canard Enchainé quoted by Israel Radio, Jerusalem has already ordered high-quality combat rations from a French food manufacturer for soldiers serving in elite units and has also asked reservists of these units staying abroad to return to Israel.

The magazine further reported that in a recent visit to France, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi told his French counterpart Jean-Louis Georgelin that Israel is not planning to bomb Iran, but may send elite troops to conduct activities on the ground there.

These, according to the magazine, could involve sabotage of nuclear facilities as well as assassinations of top Iranian nuclear scientists.

Israel has recently toned down rhetoric against Iran so as not to hinder US diplomatic efforts at bringing Teheran to become transparent regarding its nuclear program, but neither Jerusalem nor Washington have so far made any unequivocal statements to the effect that the military option against Iran was no longer being considered.

Israel has maintained that it has the military capability to tackle Iran on its own if sanctions against the Islamic Republic prove ineffective.

Israel accuses Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. Teheran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful.


Report: Israel will attack Iran after December | Iranian - Iran News | Jerusalem Post

 

[RPK]

US and Israel stage major air defense exercise


Jerusalem: The Israeli and US militaries were set to begin a major joint air defense exercise Wednesday, highlighting military ties between the two allies at a time of heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear program.


The drill could have political implications for Israel's regional foes, with the exercise testing technology that could be used to defend Israel against an Iranian attack.

The maneuver underlines the strong alliance between the US and Israel, despite recent spats over Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. The exercise, codenamed Juniper Cobra 10, will test the two countries' missile defense systems and will include roughly 1,000 US military personnel and a similar number of Israeli troops, the Israeli military said.

The US has deployed 17 warships equipped with radar systems to detect surface-to-surface missiles for the exercise. The countries plan to set up radar sites along the Israeli coast and launch dummy missiles from the sea to test the system's performance.

The exercise will include the use of X-band radar technology, used to detect incoming missiles from hundreds of miles away, a senior Israeli defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity under security regulations.

"The radar is now part of Israel's active defense lineup, on the understanding that the missile threat on Israel is growing," the official said.

Israel and the US say that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the allegation and says it is only seeking nuclear power. Israel considers a nuclear Iran an existential threat and has signaled readiness to attack if international diplomatic efforts fail to curb the nuclear program.

The exercise goes beyond defense drills, said Eytan Gilboa, a political scientist at Israel's Bar-Ilan University. "This sends a message to Iran, to Hezbollah and to Hamas that the strategic relationship between the United States and Israel remains solid," he said.

Hezbollah and Hamas are Iranian proxies in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip that have warred with Israel in recent years.

The US could also use the maneuvers to make Israel feel more secure in order to encourage Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, Gilboa said.

 

[youngindian]

U.S. sees Israel drill helping Europe missile shield

Thu Oct 22, 2009

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - A major air defense exercise launched with Israel this week will help the United States craft its European missile shield, a U.S. commander said Thursday.

Signaling the strength of their alliance against what they say is a threat from Iran's nuclear program, Israeli and U.S. forces launched a two-yearly drill Wednesday. Known as Juniper Cobra, it includes target practice against missiles, both real and in computer-simulated exercises.

Featuring in the three weeks of maneuvers is Aegis, a U.S. Navy anti-missile system that the administration of President Barack Obama plans to deploy in the eastern Mediterranean as the first part of a missile shield for Europe announced last month.

Aegis is made by Lockheed Martin Corp and fires the Standard-Missile 3, which is made by Raytheon Co.

"In this series of exercises we continue to advance our understanding of the art and the science of ballistic missile defense," Rear Admiral John Richardson, the U.S. officer overseeing Juniper Cobra, told reporters in Tel Aviv.

"This exercise is not directly related to recent announcements about ballistic missile defense in Europe, but the lessons and the insights that we gain from this exercise will certainly relate to developing that capability."

The drill comes as world powers try to talk Iran into curbing uranium enrichment, a process with bombmaking potential.

Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons but the secrecy around its plans and its vituperation of the Jewish state has stirred fears of a preemptive Israeli strike -- something publicly opposed by Washington, which cites Iran as the main reason for the planned European anti-missile system deployment.

Both Richardson and his Israeli counterpart in Juniper Cobra, Brigadier-General Doron Gavish, declined to be drawn on whether Iran was the main adversary envisaged in the exercise.

They said it served to test the interoperability of Aegis and other American anti-missile systems like THAAD and Patriot with Israel's Arrow II interceptor, and to establish procedures for the emergency U.S. "enhancement" of Israeli forces.

None of the American materiel used in the drill will remain in Israel after it winds up in mid-November, they said. But the United States does have a small military garrison at a strategic radar, X-band, stationed in Israel's southern Negev desert.

"The Israel Defense Force can defend Israel alone," Gavish said. "But it is good to know that U.S. capabilities are available."

U.S. sees Israel drill helping Europe missile shield | Reuters

 

[RPK]

Israel intercepts ship carrying weapons: Military

Jerusalem: The Israeli Navy intercepted a ship carrying weapons 185 kilometres off its coastline overnight, a military spokeswoman said today.


"During the night a special marine force intercepted a ship that was supposed to be carrying cargo around 100 (nautical) miles from our shore," the spokeswoman said, adding that the vessel was sailing under an Antigua flag.

"We suspected it was carrying weapons and when we inspected it that turned out to be true," she said, adding that the ship had been taken to port for further investigation.

The spokeswoman declined to say what kind of weapons were on board or where the ship was heading.

Israel has long accused arch-foes Syria and Iran of supplying weapons to Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, which has been ruled by the Islamist Hamas movement since June 2007.

Yesterday a senior Israeli general warned that Hamas had successfully test-fired a rocket capable of reaching Tel Aviv from the Gaza Strip, potentially putting millions of Israelis within range of the projectiles.

The rocket, believed to be Iranian-made, has a range of about 60 kilometres, putting Israel's major population centres in range, said Major General Amos Yadlin, head of military intelligence.

 

[RPK]

Israel navy seizes ship carrying weapons for Hizbullah

Jerusalem: Israel's Navy commandos seized a ship carrying over 60 tonnes of weapons including missiles and rockets from Iran for Syria with the consignment probably meant for the Hezbullah guerillas.

The ship with the arms were seized some 100 miles off the country's coast, the defence forces claimed.


The Antigua-flagged ship discovered during "routine activity to maintain security and prevent arms smuggling" carried the arms cache hidden behind civilian cargo, a statement from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said.

After the initial search onboard the ship, the Navy towed the freighter to Israel, where it conducted a thorough search of the cargo.

Since the conclusion of IDF's three-week offensive in Gaza in December-January, the Navy and the Israel Air Force have conducted extensive patrols and reconnaissance in the Mediterranean and Red Sea.

Israeli defence officials told The Jerusalem Post that the ship was carrying arms sent by Iran and it was destined for Syria and probably Hezbullah.

According to the officials, the ship carried advanced weaponry including missiles, and the incident was apparently similar in scope to the seizing of the Karine A ship intercepted in January 2002 off the coast of Gaza.

IDF special forces stormed the Karine-A freighter which was carrying 60 tonnes of weapons loaded on board for Palestinian militants at the height of the second intifada.

Bureau Report

 

[RPK]

Iran, Syria deny arms claims made by Israel

Tehran: Iran and Syria have denied claims made by Israel that a ship seized in the Mediterranean was carrying over 60 tonnes of Iranian weapons for Hezbollah guerrillas.


On Wednesday, Israel's Navy commandos seized the ship some 100 miles off the country's coast, the defence forces claimed.

The Antigua-flagged ship discovered during "routine activity to maintain security and prevent arms smuggling" carried the arms cache hidden behind civilian cargo, a statement from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said.

After the initial search onboard the ship, the Navy towed the freighter to Israel, where it conducted a thorough search of the cargo.

Since the conclusion of IDF's three-week offensive in Gaza in December-January, the Navy and the Israel Air Force have conducted extensive patrols and reconnaissance in the Mediterranean and Red Sea.

Israeli defence officials told The Jerusalem Post that the ship was carrying arms sent by Iran and it was destined for Syria and probably Hezbollah.

According to the officials, the ship carried advanced weaponry including missiles, and the incident was apparently similar in scope to the seizing of the Karine A ship intercepted in January 2002 off the coast of Gaza.

IDF special forces stormed the Karine-A freighter which was carrying 60 tonnes of weapons loaded on board for Palestinian militants at the height of the second intifada.

 

[RPK]

US offers unique F-35 fighter jet to Israel

The United States has offered to add Israeli systems and munitions to a new US-built fighter jet and deliver it to Israel by 2015, provided a deal is sealed in coming months.


Lockheed Martin Corp, maker of the radar-evading F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, would tie in Israeli-built command, control, communications, computer and intelligence systems for a unique version of the jet for sale to Israel, Jon Schreiber, a senior Pentagon program official, told Reuters Monday.


The United States also would integrate bombs that use an Israeli precision guidance kit called Spice along with Python 5 air-to-air missiles made by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Schreiber said in an interview.


In addition, he said, Israel would get a relatively inexpensive path for hardware and software upgrades to add future weapons.


On the other hand, the United States does not plan for now to put an Israeli electronic warfare system aboard the F-35, which is in early stages of production.

"Some time in the future, if policy changes, or things change, that could change as well," said Schreiber, who heads the F-35 program's international program for the Pentagon.


Dropping plans for incorporating electronic warfare systems would be a significant switch for Israel, which bought modified US-built F-15s and F-16s to incorporate such know-how.


The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin are eager to wrap up an F-35 deal with Israel, which is tentatively planning to buy an initial 25 F-35s in fiscal 2012 with an option for 50 more.


The single-engine aircraft, designed to avoid detection by radar, could play a role in any Israeli effort to knock out what it regards as the threat to its existence posed by Iran's nuclear program.


Schreiber said he met Israeli procurement officials in New York last week to discuss a "roadmap" for the proposed government-to-government F-35 sale.


The United States planned to submit its offer and prices formally in January, he said. Israel must approve this no later than March and reach a deal with Lockheed on integrating the Israeli weapons and other systems by June or July, he added, to buy in fiscal 2012 for delivery in 2015.


The Israeli defence ministry did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment. Lockheed had no comment.


Schreiber declined to discuss prices other than to say that Israel would buy the basic aircraft at the same price as the United States and its co-development partners, plus a standard government-to-government sales commission and whatever the integration of its systems might cost. Israel uses US security assistance to buy much of its arsenal.


The United States co-developed the F-35 with eight foreign partners -- Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway. Together, the core group is projected to buy about 730 aircraft.


Schreiber said the United States had not yet begun to market the F-35 to any other potential buyers in the Middle East. The United States is committed to maintaining Israel's "qualitative" military edge over any regional rival.

 

[A.V.]

seems that israel will have the best f-35 of all of them
us saves the best for them

 

[bhramos]

Israel wary of U.S.-Arab arms deals


The United States has recently signed major arms deals with several Arab states. Israeli officials have expressed concern at the scope and content of the agreements. Among the recipients of the advanced arms included in the agreements are Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The shipments are to include anti-ship and antitank missiles as well as so-called smart and bunker-busting bombs.

In December the Pentagon notified Congress of several arms deals it wanted to carry out. The details of the deals were also posted on the Pentagon website. In its report to Congress the Department of Defense noted that none of the deals would "alter the military balance in the region."

According to the Pentagon report to Congress, no arms deal with Israel have taken place since President Barack Obama took office.

Israel's defense establishment began to be concerned by U.S. arms sales to moderate Arab states during George W. Bush's presidency. In response to criticism the U.S. has argued that providing Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries with arms is part of Washington's efforts to boost the moderate axis in the Middle East and to deter Iran.

Senior Israeli and U.S. officials have said that Israel has been informed about the arms deals.

One of the deals troubling Israel was the sale to Egypt of four batteries of Harpoon Block II anti-ship cruise missiles, in a deal worth $145 million and containing 20 missiles. The Harpoon II is an advanced, accurate missile, capable of overcoming the countermeasures and electronic warfare suites generally available for defense.

The U.S. also sold Egypt four fast missile boats in a deal worth $1.29 billion. The U.S administration said the Egyptian navy needs the boats in order to better defend access to the Suez Canal.

Another deal with Egypt, this one to bolster the country's air force, included 450 Hellfire antitank missiles. These missiles are usually launched from Apache attack helicopters. "Egypt needs these missiles in order to protect its borders," the Pentagon explained in its report to Congress. "Restrictions on the use and transfer of the missiles will be part of the deal," according to the Pentagon.

The U.S. will also sell Cairo 156 jet engines for F-16 jets, valued at $750 million, in the wake of a deal in October for the sale of 24 F-16 C/D fighter aircraft equipped with electronic warfare suites. The total value of the F-16 deal is estimated at $3 billion.

The F-16s supplied to Egypt are less advanced than the aircraft of similar type in Israel's arsenal.

A large arms deal with Saudi Arabia includes the sale of 2,742 TOW-2 antitank missiles. These are advanced missiles, which Israel also has, that are capable of penetrating the armor protection of most tanks. The total value of this deal, which is to benefit the Saudi National Guard, is estimated at $177 million.

In its report to Congress the Pentagon explained that the missiles are part of an effort to upgrade the capabilities of the Saudi National Guard, hinting that the purpose of the deal was to deter Iran and to counter Al-Qaida in Yemen and in Saudi Arabia.

"The sale will improve the capabilities of Saudi Arabia to counter and defeat existing and future threats," the authors of the report wrote. "Saudi Arabia will use these capabilities to deter regional threats and strengthen security inside the country."

Jordan, too, is the beneficiary of U.S. arms sales. The U.S. will deliver to the Jordanian armed forces 1,808 Javelin antitank missiles with 162 launchers that are equipped with night vision systems. The value of the deal is $338 million.

The Javelin is an advanced missile, capable of penetrating most tanks available today. In addition, in September 2009 the U.S. signed a $220 million agreement with Jordan for the delivery of more than 80 advanced rocket launchers, of types that have been sold to Israel in the past.

The U.S. also signed a $290 million deal with the UAE for ordnance that would be carried by F-16s. These include 1,600 laser-guided "smart" bombs, 800 one-ton bombs, and 400 bunker buster bombs. Washington's desire to build up the UAE against threats from Iran was the main reason used to justify the sale.

Even though the UAE does not pose a threat on Israel and is not considered an enemy state, officials in Jerusalem are concerned about this deal as well.

Israel wary of U.S.-Arab arms deals - Haaretz - Israel News

 

[ppgj]

Israeli anti-missile system to tackle major threat

By Ron Bousso (AFP) – 3 hours ago

Israel has completed tests on its Iron Dome anti-missile system

The system will be deployed by Israel along the Gaza Strip border

Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed security fears about Ben Gurion airport

JERUSALEM — Israel's soon-to-be-deployed anti-missile system, capable of intercepting barrages of rockets, may shoot down one of the biggest strategic threats facing the country in recent decades.

After successfully completing its final tests this week, the Iron Dome system, providing an answer to short-range rockets and artillery shells, is planned to be integrated into the army within six months, officials said.

The unique cutting-edge technology will be deployed along the border with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, where militants have fired thousands of projectiles against southern Israel over the past decade.

In a second stage, it will be deployed along the border with Lebanon where the militant group Hezbollah is said to have an arsenal of more than 40,000 rockets.

The Iron Dome will join the Arrow long-range ballistic missile defence system in an ambitious multi-layered programme to protect Israeli cities from rockets and missiles fired from Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, Syria and Iran.

A third system specifically aimed at countering medium-range missiles is planned to be developed in the coming years, the ministry said.

Today, five million civilians live within the range of rockets from Lebanon and Gaza, where militants are believed to have rockets capable of reaching the Tel Aviv metropolis, Israeli officials said.

According to officials, the Iron Dome marks a major strategic breakthrough for Israel, which has struggled in the face of rockets fired from Lebanon since the early 1980s.

"Making Iron Dome operational will transform Israel's diplomatic and security situation on the northern and southern fronts," said Pinhas Buchris, the defence ministry's director general.

The interception system will also protect strategic facilities such as military bases, ports and electricity plants, which have been targeted in attacks from Gaza and Lebanon.

"The missiles and rockets have been a strategic threat because they led to major Israeli policy shifts by launching offensives in Lebanon and Gaza," ministry spokesman Shlomo Dror told AFP.

The elimination of this threat would prevent a repeat of the international criticism Israel has had to face following last year's offensive in the Gaza Strip, said Ephraim Inbar, director of the Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies.

"The system neutralises one of the foundations of the enemy's strategy which says that due to the Israeli army's total superiority, the only way to target Israel is by hitting its population centres," he said.

The Iron Dome will not only mark a strategic shift in war, but also in peace.

Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have for years expressed fear that a Palestinian state in the West Bank would place Israel's only international airport within range of rockets.

"With the new system, Israel can eliminate one of the biggest potential threats on the Ben Gurion airport in a future peace deal with the Palestinians," Dror said.

But Israeli officials do not believe the new system would put an end to the rocket attacks.

"There is no 100 percent protection. Militants will continue firing rockets and try to launch small attacks against Israel," Dror said.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.

AFP: Israeli anti-missile system to tackle major threat

 

[IBRIS]

New anti-rocket system ready


Iron Dome system, designed to intercept Qassam rockets, to be deployed later this year; Defense Minister Barak says system's completion a significant milestone, tests' success attests to capabilities of Israel's defense industries Hanan Greenberg Published: 01.06.10, 20:24 / Israel News

Israeli success and good news for the south: The Iron Dome anti-rocket system successfully passed a number of comprehensive tests during the last two days, the defense establishment says.

As a result of the system's successful performance, officials have decided to deploy the system during the second half of the year.

Personnel from the arms development department of the Defense Ministry and Rafael carried out an additional series of tests in the south, where the system had to cope, for the first time, with a number of rockets fired at the same time, including Katyusha and Qassam rockets, as well as 120 mm mortars.

Moment of impact (Photo: Defense Ministry)

All rockets fired as part of the test were intercepted successfully by the new system.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said this was a significant milestone. "The success of the tests attests to the capabilities of Rafael and Israel's defense industries," he said, and expressed his admiration for all those involved in the development of the project.

With the completion of the tests, the development stage of the system is over. According to the timetable, the system will soon be handed over to a special anti-aircraft brigade in the Air Force.

'Unprecedented speed of development'

A senior Air Force officer said to Ynet that anti-aircraft training schools are preparing to receive the system with a series of training exercises designed for the troops who will operate the system. According to the plan, the first battery will be operational by summer 2010. Military personnel have already been selected, including Lieutenant-Colonel Shabtai Ben Bukher, who will head the brigade, and Captain Maor Gabriel who will take command of the first battery.

Iron Dome is designed to protect Israel from short range rockets and was developed as part of a multi-layer defense system that includes "Magic Wand" for intermediate range missiles and "Arrow" for long range missiles.

Outgoing Defense Ministry Director-General Pinhas Bukhris noted that the completion of Iron Dome will change Israel's political and security situation in the north and south.

"The security establishment is committed to defending all Israeli residents from rockets and missiles. Israeli citizens should be grateful to the project team for this remarkable achievement – an Israeli technological development that took place at an unprecedented speed," Bukhris said.
VIDEO in link: New anti-rocket system ready - Israel News, Ynetnews

 

[enlightened1]

Lockheed Martin Officials Heading to Israel to Close F-35 Deal​

http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/45152/Lockheed+Martin+Officials+Heading+to+Israel+to+Close+F-35+Deal.html​

http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/45152/Lockheed+Martin+Officials+Heading+to+Israel+to+Close+F-35+Deal.htmlhttp://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/45152/Lockheed+Martin+Officials+Heading+to+Israel+to+Close+F-35+Deal.html

January 19, 2010

Senior Lockheed Martin officials are expected to arrive in Israel next week in the hope of finalizing a deal for the purchase of American-made F-35 fighter planes by Israel.

They will meet with the incoming director-general of the Defense Ministry, Major-General (reserves) Ehud Shani as well as other ministry officials and of course, senior IAF commanders.

It is hoped the signing of the deal for the state-of-the-art stealth fighters will take place at the end of March or at the very latest, the beginning of April. The two major disputes surround pricing and American objections to Israeli modifications, especially an electronic warfare unit (Mayavi) that Israel plans to install. Nevertheless, the Yisrael HaYom daily reports progress in the negotiations.

If Israel hopes to receive the first of the planes in 2014, a signing must take place sooner rather than later and from the Israel Air Force’s perspective, the quicker the planes arrive the better. Project delays however may result in delivery only taking place in 2016.

The first stage purchase would involve 25 planes with an option for an additional 50. While defense establishment officials insist they are indeed interested in acquiring these planes, “not at any price”, signaling the Americans that they will have to negotiate the current asking price.

In 2002, Israel joined the multinational effort towards construction the next generation fighter plane, granted observer status, not a full partner. Israel did not wish to make the necessary investment to achieve partnership status, a move that still results in much criticism but for now, that is the current reality.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

 

[A.V.]

IAI Conducts Successful Firing Trial of LAHAT Missiles from IAF COBRA Helicopter
successful firing trial of two Laser Homing Attack (LAHAT) laser-guided missiles from an Israel Air Force (IAF) COBRA helicopter. The missiles were fired from the helicopter at ranges of 3.5 km and 7 km, resulting in direct impact on the targets.

"The LAHAT missile system was based on the company's long history of advanced laser weapon systems for air and ground forces," said Itzhak Nissan, President and CEO of IAI. "For more then 30 years, IAI's MBT Division has been the main Israeli supplier for laser guided munitions for the Israel Defense Forces, as well as for many other satisfied customers worldwide. We are very satisfied with this latest round of firing trials."

The LAHAT lightweight precision guided weapon utilizes a semi-active laser homing guidance method, and can be fired from the barrel of a tank gun, from light vehicles and from light helicopters, hitting targets with pinpoint accuracy at ranges of up to 8 km. It is effective against armored targets and in the war against terrorism.

LAHAT is also effective in urban areas, where a low collateral damage solution is absolutely required. The missile strikes both stationary and moving targets designated for the attack, and can be launched either from a firing platform or by an indirect designation such as a helicopter, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or a forward observer.


Company or Organisation Portrait:
Israel Aerospace Industries is Israel's leading technological-industrial company, with approximately 17,400 employees.

IAI has gained worldwide recognition as a leading developer of aviation and aerospace technology in both military and civilian markets.

IAI provides the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and its foreign customers with unique, high-quality technological solutions that meet a wide range of needs on the ground, in the sea, in the air, in space and in the field of homeland security. IAI is a world leader in a wide range of advanced technologies, including the development, production, renovation, upgrading, repair and maintenance of aircraft, missiles, launchers, communications satellites, observation satellites and ground services, electronic systems, avionics systems, advanced radar, precision-guided munitions, and unmanned aerial vehicles.


http://www.defpro.com/news/details/12903/

 

[plugwater]

PA official: Israel's anti-terror campaign going too far

Israel is going too far by increasingly assassinating terrorists across the Middle East, a senior Palestinian official in Ramallah told London-based newspaper The Times.



"Israel is overstepping their boundaries," the Palestinian source was quoted as saying. "Other countries don’t want to become a killing field for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

The British newspaper says Israel is currently waging a "covert assassination campaign" across the Mideast. Among other attacks, The Times cites the explosion of a "tourist bus" outside Damascus that killed Iranian officials and Hamas members. In another case, several people were killed after a meeting between Hamas and Hezbollah members in Beirut was also targeted.



“There has been growing cooperation between Gaza and Iran," the Palestinian official was quoted as saying. "Israel can read the writing on the wall and they know that with the help of Iran, the Hamas Government in Gaza will become stronger and will fight better.


'They're trying to embroil us all'

Meanwhile, an Egyptian diplomat told the newspaper that Cairo is aware of the stepped up Israeli assassination campaign.



“We watch their comings and goings; we are aware that there is more activity both on our ground and other countries in the region,” he said. “They are trying to embroil us all in their conflict.”


The Times notes that Israel is believed to have resumed and intensified its anti-terror assassinations after Mossad Chief Meir Dagan took up the post.



"Only months after the former paratrooper assumed leadership of the intelligence service in October 2002, senior Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon began to be targeted," The Times wrote.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3848419,00.html