Anticipated US strikes against countries harbouring terrorists have accelerated Israel's deployment of a second Israel Aircraft Industries Arrow anti-tactical ballistic missile battery, originally scheduled for early next year.
The move will improve the country's defence against a possible ballistic missile attack by Iraq, which targeted Israel during the 1991 Gulf War. Iraq has been named as a potential US target.
Israeli intelligence sources assess that if Iraq is attacked it may use its remaining Scud missiles to hit Israel. The first Arrow anti- tactical ballistic missile system is deployed in central Israel. A third system is planned for deployment at a later stage.
Source: Flight International