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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Iron Dome system successfully intercepts Kassams, Katyushas |
| 2010-01-07 |
| Israel inched a step closer to deploying a missile defense system along the border with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after the Iron Dome successfully intercepted a number of missile barrages in tests held in southern Israel this week. The tests were overseen by the Defense Ministry, the Israeli Air Force and the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. which has developed and is manufacturing the Iron Dome, slated to become operational and deployed along the Gaza border in the middle of 2010. The missile barrages that the system succeeded in intercepting included a number of rockets that mimicked Kassam and longer-range Grad-model Katyusha rockets that are known to be in Hamas's arsenal. The Iron Dome is supposed to be capable of intercepting all of the short-range rockets in fired by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hizbullah in Southern Lebanon, by using an advanced radar that locates and tracks the rocket that is then intercepted by a kinetic missile interceptor. During the test, the radar succeeded in detecting which rockets were headed towards coordinates that were designated as open fields and therefore did not launch an interceptor to destroy them. The IDF has already established a new battalion that will be part of the IAF's Air Defense Division and will operate the Iron Dome. Prototypes of the Iron Dome have already been supplied to the new battalion which has commenced training with the systems. The IDF has also located positions along the Gaza border that will be used as bases for the system, which includes a launcher and radar system. After it completes the deployment of the system along the Gaza border, the IDF will begin deploying the system along the northern border with Lebanon. MOD Dir.-Gen. Pinhas Buchris said that the system would eventually "transform" security for residents of southern and northern Israel. "The defense establishment continues to be committed to do everything it can to provide all residents of Israel a multi-layered defense against missiles and rockets," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 How much damage will the debris cause when it rains out of the sky? Kassams and katayushas aren't exactly guided weapons in the first place. I suppose that's been thought of long ago. If they can decide whether or not the trajectory is worth launching an interceptor, then it would seem they can also decide where to intercept it. |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-01-07 09:53 |
| #7 Alternatively , just throw all Palestinians out of Palestine and then take over the area . I dont care where (in the middle east)the refugees go (surely their lovely mooslim brothers will take care of them lol) . A nice extened area . Screw UN , screw PC , screw M.E. , screw every seething nutjob and more , they deserve it . Way passed caring who/what motivates paleos to live a better life .. They are incapable after decades of inbreeding . Way passed caring what the rest of the ungrateful world thinks . Way passed caring ... Way If the Middle East is just going to seethe endlessly about Palestine , then wipe the name off the map , rename it Shalom aka Peace (haha) Ok ... i can dream . |
| Posted by: Oscar 2010-01-07 09:38 |
| #6 I agree with Mich H: Iron Dome is not the solution. I have a better one. Since the Palestinians never seem to lack money for missiles I propose the following: 1) A single missile fired means cutting all aid. A second missile and then ask for them reimbursing every single penny since 1949 (sixty years and counting living from the western tax payer instead of earning their berad at the sweat of their brows). 2) In case the missile hits something Paestinans will have to pay damages. 3) Send a brigade of 5000 American ambulance chasers to Israel with the mission of helping Israeli citizens in getting gazillions of dollars from the Palestinians in compensation for the stress of years having to run in the middle of the night with their children in their arms. |
| Posted by: JFM 2010-01-07 08:43 |
| #5 The children and old people of Sderot spend their time in an underground bunker with playground and classrooms because the missile alarms were going off several times a day, American Delight. It was built by Magen David Adom (Israel's 'Red Cross') with donations from all over the world. Pretty much the entire population down there has PTSD from the years of bombardment. phil_b, "nuisance" is not the right word. I've seen photos of Sderot, and it looks like it's been bombed. Not quite London after the Blitz, but still. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-01-07 08:31 |
| #4 How much damage will the debris cause when it rains out of the sky? Kassams and katayushas aren't exactly guided weapons in the first place. Although I admit that they're less potent as low-velocity kinetic debris than intact high explosive devices, it doesn't take much to kill an unprotected person in the open. People will still have to tuck and take cover, which means that the terror/stress element of the barrages isn't negated with this system. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2010-01-07 07:43 |
| #3 If the Lebanese border is more important, then why is Israel working on the Gaza front first? Because the Lebanon border is quieter for now, and that "nuisance" makes people have to run for their safe areas all the time. |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-01-07 01:15 |
| #2 If the Lebanese border is more important, then why is Israel working on the Gaza front first? |
| Posted by: American Delight 2010-01-07 00:41 |
| #1 Israel once again shows how brainpower wins in the end despite the problems. This will be much more important on the Lebanon border. The Gaza missiles are little more than a nuisance. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2010-01-07 00:24 |