|
 In recent years, new tactical missiles and
rockets designed for short range have added a numerical and
qualitative edge. "A tactical weapon that threatens a third of our
population and most of our strategic sites cannot be regarded as mere
'tactical', it becomes a strategic threat. There is no clear
definition between a rocket and a missile. They carry almost the same
payload and reach the same range and thus, should be addressed equally
by defensive means" states Arieh Herzog.
Typically, such weapons have a range between 70 and 200 km, flying
through short, relatively flat and low ballistic trajectories w making
intercept much more challenging. Like the medium range ballistic
missiles such weapons carry warheads of 100 up to 600 kg which can
cause significant damage. On the other end of the scale, Israel is
facing a "low tech" but equally dangerous threat from short range
improvised rockets and mortars. These weapons are also employed as
part of the asymmetric terror warfare, by Iranian- and Syrian-backed
Palestinian and Lebanese terrorist organizations. The firing of
rockets on Israeli territory, by terrorists from Palestine and Lebanon
is characterized as a new type of "cross-border terrorism", which, if
not countered effectively, can spread to strategic locations in the
densely populated narrow coastal area. At present, there are no
effective means to counter such threats, although some promising
technologies are over the horizon.
"We are expecting new defensive systems to evolve in the next few
years, to provide effective answers to such challenges. 2005 marked
the initiation of this process, as the US congress earmarked funding
for the Short Range Missile Defense (SRMD)" Herzog told Defense
Update.
 Responding to the challenge of short range threats is the Nautilus
laser interceptor system, a joint US-Israeli program developed over
the past few years. In its first live-fire test in June 2000, the
system shot down a single Russian-made Katyusha rocket. Two months
later, the system shot down two Katyushas simultaneously. "Directed
energy is ideally suited to be used against such short range, short
flight targets", says Herzog, "Nautilus, based on chemical laser
technology is practically terminated, but other systems, based on
solid state lasers continue development in the US. Israel is pursuing
several directions, to defend against such threats. Based on local
know-how, Israel could pursue similar development to protect its
cities and military forces from rocket attacks, if the current
situation continues". In July 2006, a delegation from Northrop
Grumman presented the new deployable
Skyguard system to
the Israeli MOD. Skyguard is based on the THEL concept, utilizing
modern systems and is designed to be operated by the military. |
