.bmp)
.bmp)
The Security Cabinet on Wednesday approved a new Israeli-made system for the protectionof civilian aircraft against missile attacks. The development of the new defense system will begin at the start of 2008. The systemwill also significantly reduce the risk of infiltration into Israeli airspace by hijackedor unidentified aircraft.The decision followed Intelligence reports of international terror organizations' plansto target Israeli aircraft and assessments that missiles were becoming more advanced andmore readily available to terror groups, Israel Radio reported.The cabinet also approved a proposal by Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, according to which, before the introduction of the new technology, a budget would be allocated tofortify all civilian planes this year using existing technology that IAF aircraft arealready equipped with.Israel will thereby become the first country in the world to install defense systems inall its civilian aircraft.The security cabinet's decision comes after Defense Minister Ehud Barak reopened thedebate over which Kassam defense system Israel should invest in.Barak has said one of his goals was to promote the development of Israel's three missiledefense systems - the Arrow against long-range ballistic missiles, David's Sling formedium-range missiles and the Iron Dome, or another system, for short-range rockets.One of the systems that was dismissed by the Defense Ministry committee that chose IronDome and is being reconsidered by Barak is Skyguard, an antimissile laser systemdeveloped and manufactured by US defense contractor Northrop Grumman and formerly knownas Nautilus.Northrop Grumman is represented in Israel by former OC Air Force Maj.-Gen. (res.) HerzlBodinger, who, according to officials, has convinced Barak to reexamine the issue.Defense officials said Barak was considering additional systems for the long-term and notfor the immediate future.Senior defense officials told The Jerusalem Post, however, that Skyguard was notcurrently a viable option.'There is no laser system today that can be applied and used effectively to counter theKassam threat,' said one senior official. 'Any work being done on it is a waste of time.'The Iron Dome's future is uncertain for another reason as well. The IDF has yet todetermine its procurement plan for the coming year and, as a result, Rafael does not knowif the project will receive a budget for the coming year.According to defense sources, the $40m. given to the Rafael Armament Development Authority for initial development is running out and if the Defense Ministry wants to continue work on the system, it will need to allocate at least an additional $80m.
As in the days of Noah....
