Contest would see IAI and Rafael taking partners as country moves quickly to counter Hezbollah missile threat
Israel is seeking US financial and technical support for a newly launched effort to develop a short-range derivative of the Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)/Boeing Arrow II anti-ballistic missile. The US Senate Appropriations Committee is being lobbied to add $16 million to the fiscal year 2006 defence spending bill to launch studies to support the new project, says Arieh Herzog, director of the Israel Missile Defence Organisation (IMDO).
Securing US participation is a key element of an IMDO plan to stage a design competition between IAI and Rafael, with each company to team with a different US partner. The organisation does not intend to limit US industry participation in the competition to Boeing, IAI’s long-time partner on the Arrow II, says Herzog.
The IMDO is moving quickly on the new project to counter an urgent threat. Herzog says the Hezbollah organisation has been armed with Iranian El Fagar and Zazal short-range missiles, with ranges of 40-200km (20-110nm). Arrow II and Lockheed Martin Raytheon PAC-3 batteries now fielded in Israel are too large to counter the new threat, he adds. The new development calls for the design of a new missile, with other elements of the weapon system – such as its search radar and launcher – intended to be common with the Arrow II.
Boeing’s first shipset of US-made components for the Arrow II was recently delivered to IAI.
STEPHEN TRIMBLE/WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
