Posted on 07/09/2014 8:55:16 PM PDT by robowombat
Hamas firing long-range M-302 rockets at Israel, capable of 150-km distance
Rockets smuggled into Gaza before Klos-C cache discovered are considered more accurate than makeshift projectiles made in the Strip; Hadera struck by M-302, dozens are estimated to exist in Gaza arsenal. By Gili Cohen |
Gaza militants have several dozen long-range M-302 rockets in their arsenal and have been using them in the current round of rocket fire, Israeli officials say.
One of the rockets, which the army's intelligence division says are considered more accurate than the makeshift rockets manufactured in Gaza and can be stored more easily because they are more durable, hit Hadera, a coastal city between Tel Aviv and Haifa, on Tuesday.
The M-302s were smuggled into Gaza late last year, before Israel seized the weapons-laden Klos-C four months ago. After inspecting the weapons aboard the ship, IDF officials said the rockets that had previously been smuggled in would threaten the Jerusalem area, Tel Aviv and part of the north, as well as offshore natural gas rigs.
"There is no local production of M-302 rockets, as far as I know," said Tal Inbar, who heads the Space Research Center at the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies, an institution established by the Israel Air Force Association to promote public discussion about aviation and space issues. "This is a family of rockets with a long and variable range, and we encountered it for the first time in an operational capacity when Hezbollah fired them in 2006, at which point they were called Khaibars.
The Syrian-made M-302, whose range varies from 90 kilometers to at least 150 and is based on WS-2 Chinese rockets, which were fired at Israel by Hezbollah during the 2006 Second Lebanon War, under the name Khaibar-1. Hadera sustained a hit by one of these rockets in 2006 as well. Inbar said the rocket that hit Hadera this week is one of the longest-range M-302s, which can carry warheads of up to 145 kilograms.
A senior IDF officer told reporters that most of the rockets that have been fired at the center of the country are the makeshift Gaza-made ones, which can hit targets up to 80 kilometers from the Strip. Tel Aviv is 71 kilometers from Gaza. Palestinian militants in Gaza fired at least 165 rockets at Israel since Tuesday.
Brig. Gen. Itai Baron, who heads the research division of Military Intelligence, said a month ago that Hamas has hundreds of rockets with a range of up to 80 kilometers. Most of Hamas' long-range rockets are the ones they made themselves.
Hamas also has thousands of short-range rockets, some with a range of up to 40 kilometers and some with half that range.
Islamic Jihad also has rockets that can reach the center of the country.
This is just prelude.There is a huge strategic threat. When Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, it will be subject to a counterattack by long range missiles fired from Iran and short range ballistic missiles fired from Iranian mobile batteries positioned in Syria. Also if ISIL formulates as a state, they too will no doubt obtain missiles to point at Israel.
If there is a ballistic missile war with Israel the IAF will be in for some very busy times and the results are likely to be very negative for any Muslims involved. Some how I imagine the Saudis view such a contingency with delight.
I looked into the technology of these missiles, and I was amazed at how crude some of these missiles are. They are basically armed metal-cased fireworks. Too bad Israel has to spend 500 times as much money to shoot one down as it costs to make one of these. They need a laser.
Iran attempted to send another shipment of M-302 missiles to Hamas, but the IDF stopped that shipment. The missiles were originally made by Assad’s Syria.
http://missilethreat.com/irans-secret-weapons/
No doubt the Israeli Air Force will do well and do its very best to defend the country. But consider the strategic reality. If Israel faces hard line hostile opponents armed with say 1,000 ballistic missiles scattered over thousands of square miles of territory, how can it defend against a coordinated attack? Also very costly. A modern jet fighter can cost over $50 million each and a pilotless missile less than $1 million each. Also not at all certain that defensive measures such as Iron Dome can stop a critical number before severe devastation and causalities. Solutions?
“If there is a ballistic missile war with Israel. . ..”
I hope Israel has a huge, secure stockpile of their missile-killing missiles. Who has their back?
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has their back, and will personally fight for them before the end. Then the world really will see shock and awe.....
The IS hate the Hamas People (Iranian controlled) But the worst is yet to come. WMDs are on the way.
You said, “They need a laser.”
Apparently the US Army Space and Missile Defense command is already on it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z71TOPLy1dU
Also, apparently a collaborative effort with Israel. Neat stuff! Works on UAVs, rockets and mortars. Who knows what else?
Kit
The missile defense system is multilayered and includes the ability to determine which missiles can be ignored. We played a major role in funding and supporting the development and deployment using an American manned radar system.
The Israelis recently made a price point break through. The system is getting better and cheaper. It remains to be seen if it can be overwhelmed.
I still think Israel needs to level Gaza.
Consider that one side is aiming for genocide, and another is trying to minimize damage to noncombatants. Who will win?
The Israelis should just fly over and randomly drop ten 2,000 lb bombs for every Pali rocket that is fire at them.
Or just drive them Palis into Egypt or the sea and be done with it.
Punitive warfare works.
At this remove the proper response is for Israel to get medieval and throw the Palis out of Gaza altogether
Tell Egypt they have company coming.
Sooner or later there will be only one FINAL SOLUTION, which is one side wins and the other one loses. Once this point has been reached “Just may be” there will be something what resembles a period of quiet.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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