Bump!
Posted on 02/04/2008 10:50:04 AM PST by RDTF
An American missile ship set to dock at Haifa Port on Monday is equipped with an anti-missile defense system that could be deployed in the region in the event of an Iranian missile attack against Israel.
The USS San Jacinto is an AEGIS cruiser in the Ticonderoga Class and was commissioned in 1988. It carries the most advanced underwater surveillance system available today and is equipped with the AEGIS missile defense system, which was developed by Lockheed Martin to protect against aircraft and missiles. The ship will remain in Haifa for three days.
While the IDF developed and operates the Arrow missile defense system, defense officials said Israel has expressed interest in the AEGIS and that last year, the Defense Ministry requested information on the system from the Pentagon. During the first Gulf War in 1991, the US deployed Patriot missile batteries in Israel to defend the country against Iraqi Scud missiles.
"It is possible that one day, if we are under attack, the US will send these ships to the region to help defend us," a defense official said. "Until then, it is important that we get to know the system, its capabilities and its interoperability with our systems."
The San Jacinto can launch long-range surface-to-surface Tomahawk cruise missiles, rocket torpedoes and standard surface-to-air missiles. The heart of the AEGIS system is the SPY-1A radar system, which is capable of detecting and tracking any aircraft or missile flying within 320 kilometers. The ship has participated in operations in Iraq and Bosnia.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
Ping
Bump!
Message to the Iranians not to try anything?
It would have to stay fairly close to Israel from now on...no use letting the Iranians know it’s there and then sending it away.
....Nah. Couldn't be.
Right?
LLSS.
Stay safe over there.
L
Anybody out there ever make a liberty call in Haifa? I was there once while in the MFO — it struck me kinda like Pittsbugh-by-the-sea.
February surprise for Ah-wanna-jihad and his fellow towel-heads?
It is an industrial city, not a well-known tourist/vacation spot, so your comments are spot-on. Still, for an industrial city it is quite attractive.
it can loiter off the coast at some distance and still be effective, apparently.
For the record, I have never subscribed to or substantiated those rumors, although I have been asked about them several times.
If I knew anything, I would not be saying it here. I know OPSEC.
Some of the things I don't say on here would curl your toes.
The March Israel-Iran Attack rumors are so old they have whiskers growing on them.
Haifa tidbit.
It is also a grainery port and the rats there are as big as a collie dog, but with short rat legs. Feasting on grain all day works on a rat just like pig or a cow.
We had to post guards on all ships lines because the metal shields (”rat guards”) weren’t capable of stopping these huge rats from getting onboard.
Chance for the crew to get ashore and meet up with some of the locals of the opposite sex.
Some of the things I don't say on here would curl your toes.
I have no doubt.
All the same, you watch your back over there. BTW, MrsL really enjoyed the pictures on your FR homepage. She thinks Fox ought to hand YOU a microphone and put you on TV.
"Probably get more of a straight story from her than those overpaid windbags." were pretty much her exact words.
Smart lady that MrsL.
L
...AND the 4 underwater telecommunication cables that were damaged.
I'm not sure this is accurate. The last time I checked, the San Jacinto was armed with the SM-2 missile, which is designed for antiaircraft use, not the SM-3 AEGIS ABM missile. Any currently-serving FReepers out there, please correct me if I'm wrong.
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