Israel will fit a cruise missile being developed for China with a hard-target penetrating warhead, allowing the stand-off weapon to be used against high- value command and control bunkers and other reinforced targets.
The 397km (215nm)-range missile is being developed by Israel Military Industries (IMI) using technologies derived from its Star 1 anti-radiation attack drone. IMI declines to discuss the cruise missile programme, or to identify the customer.
The cruise missile is believed to be of considerably larger dimensions than the Star 1, with a larger turbojet powerplant. Guidance includes a global-positioning system and inertial navigation. The terminal-guidance mode is not known, but an imaging seeker is a clear possibility.
The cruise missile is believed to have a maximum operational altitude of 30,000ft (10,000m).
Source: Flight International