Posted on 06/06/2006 9:01:52 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
“Defense News”: Israel planning “Arrow Mark 4”
Israel has asked the US for $58 million to speed up production of Arrow interceptor missile.
Ran Dagoni, Washington 5 Jun 06 14:28
Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. (IAI) subsidiary Elta Group, the Israel Air Force, and Ministry of Defense are designing components for the Arrow Mark IV, which will have qualitatively better performance than current versions. The Arrow upgrade is one response to the threat posted by conventional or nuclear armed Iranian ballistic missiles, says “Defense News”, citing Israeli defense sources. The Arrow Mark IV will have a new radar unit, improved interceptor missiles, and other components that will convert the system from a theater anti-ballistic missile defense system into an integrated nationwide anti-ballistic missile defense system.
An official Ministry of Defense source said the new radar would turn the Arrow Mark IV into a completely holographic system, which will enable control of interceptor missiles from any location.
Elta is developing the Arrow Mark IV radar, the Green Pine I, which will have a much deeper monitoring range than the 700-kilometer range of the existing radar. The new radar is scheduled to enter operational service in 2009.
Arrow program heads said they plan to gradually improve the system, step by step, including a Mark 3.5 version with improved radar and interceptor missiles, which will enter service in early 2007.
The upgrade program is part of an Arrow system upgrade program, which will terminate at the end of the 2008 fiscal year. The US is financing two-thirds of the program, and Israel is financing the rest.
The US Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has asked Congress for $77 million for the upgrade program for 2007. Israel’s Ministry of Defense wants an additional $58 million from Congress to finance accelerated joint production of the Arrow’s interceptor missiles, and to conduct research on other improvements needed to counter the Iranian nuclear threat.
The Arrow upgrade program is part of Israel’s preparations to counter Iran’s efforts to develop and produce nuclear weapons. In the coming months, Israel plans to launch its latest spy satellite, which will be able to spot changes on the ground in Iran, even in poor weather conditions and under cloud cover.
In a separate development, the Israel Navy is finalizing details of a contract with a German shipyard for two more submarines, which will reinforce Israel’s strategic deterrence capability, or launch a retaliatory strike against Iran from the sea in the event of a missile attack.
“Defense News” says that, in recent months, Israeli and US officials have increased the two countries’ response coordination, in the event that diplomatic efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear efforts fail.
I agree with you, but on the other hand think of it as outsourcing. If the Israelis have better technology than we do, we might as well buy it.
National missile defense is a great idea - and we sure as heck need it on the west coast from Alaska to San Diego thanks to Clinton and his North Korea debacle. We should be deploying these too.
If the US sells/gives Tridents to anyone other than the P-5 nations,they would also need to sell atleast 2 SSBNs,associated systems & provide complete logistical support,the cost of which may have to be borne by the Pentagon itself!!!To launchIsrael or anyone else would need to carry out massive modifications of their SSKs,which cannot be done without the help of the manufacturers & this would most likely adversely affect the capabilities of such ships.Israel already has sub launched cruise missiles which have a supposed range of upto 1,500 kms which are far more sensible for SSKs.Taiwan too is working on cruise missiles though it could do with a Tomahawk or 2 for its surface ships & 2 subs!!
Thanks for the ping!
BMD missiles are already in the holes in select west coast locations.
If the Israelis, or anyone else has better technology for sale, we'd buy it, but this isn't missile technology per se, it is anti-missile technology.
The money we've spent on Star Wars to date, was so much that the Soviet Union looked at the table, folded and walked away. That was in 1991, today, we have the only deployed system on earth.
We are outsourcing part of the work to Israel, sorta kinda, part of their fee is they get to make their own, and name their own, but the systems share quite a lot of technology.
For example, re-read the part of the article about holography, then search "Aegis Block IV". Very interesting capability, but not exactly cutting edge.
The thing is, these consulting arrangements are negotiated beforehand, and sometimes participants want to change the deal later on. Sometimes there's a valid reason for it, and sometimes the expense account gets padded a bit. In any event, negotiation follows till both sides agree or they decide to pursue future efforts independently.
Right now, Israel has a particular interest in ABM technology. Arrow 3.4b may be the best we can field if worse comes to worst, but Israel won't be without some sort of overhead over. Squeeze the eagle, eagle screams, life goes on.
Israel is building it's own long range naval SAM system around the new MF-STAR radar & Barak-2 missiles(jointly developed with India).This combo,on paper is only meant for anti-aircraft/missile roles,but the Israeli experience with the Arrow could be used to give it ATBM capabilities too.
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