Israel says successfully tests more powerful rocket interceptor (Iron Dome is the lowest tier)

Yahoo News ^ | 11/26/2012 | Dan Williams

[SeekAndFind]

A new Israeli air shield against rockets more powerful than those intercepted by Iron Dome in the Gaza conflict passed its first field test last week after being rushed through development, officials said on Sunday.

They said that David's Sling, billed as Israel's answer to the longer-range missiles of Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas and Syria, shot down a target rocket in a secret November 20 desert trial that coincided with fierce shelling exchanges between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Worried about deteriorating security on the fronts with Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, and the international showdown over the disputed nuclear program of arch-foe Iran, Israel has been accelerating work on its multi-tier missile shield, with extensive help from the United States.

A source in Israel's defense industries said David's Sling was originally scheduled for live trials in 2013, and that this was brought forward "given the general sense of urgency".

David's Sling uses technology similar to that of the Iron Dome system, which Israel says had a 90 percent success rate, intercepting 421 of the rockets fired from Gaza in eight days of fighting that ended in a ceasefire on Wednesday.

Also known as Magic Wand, David's Sling is being made by Israel's state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd and U.S. firm Raytheon Co.

"The completion of the program will be a significant layer for Israel's multi-tiered anti-missile defense system," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in a statement.

Iron Dome is the lowest of the tiers, tackling the guerrilla rockets of Gaza and Hezbollah. It was originally meant to handle ranges of up to 70 km (45 miles), but designers say this is being expanded to some 250 km (155 miles).

The top-most tier is Israel's Arrow ballistic interceptor, designed to shoot down long-range Iranian and Syrian missiles

[molson209]

Highest Tier would targeting the person with I idea to fire a rocket

[DManA]

I haven’t seen any stories on the laser weapon systems lately. Seemed like they were pretty close to being a reality.

That would be ideal to replace those extremely expensive rocket defenses.

[BenLurkin]

Woeren’t they working on LASER anti-missile technology?

[Katechon]

Israel did very well:
--> It eliminated the de facto head of Hamas’s military wing,
--> it destroyed a large portion of Gaza’s long-range rockets as well as weapon storage facilities and launching pads,
--> and it demonstrated the effectiveness of the Iron Dome, all with minimal casualties.


Aware that time was in Hamas' favour, Israel took concrete steps to bolster the credibility of a land operation, including the drafting of tens of thousands of reservists. These were mostly intended as a warning upon which Israel preferred not to act, -- BUT had a rocket struck a highly sensitive target in Israel causing mass casualties, Netanyahu could have found himself with little choice...


Public pressure for a land incursion gradually increased, not least due to the tens of thousands of reservists camped out near the Gaza Strip, away from their families, and repeatedly telling journalists that they were prepared to enter...

Also: the Iron Dome’s success could lessen the threat posed by Hizbollah’s missile arsenal, viewed as an Iranian deterrent.


The system is EXTREMELY COSTLY however: $35,000-$50,000 for every intercepted rocket – and to be fully effective its coverage would need to be significantly expanded...

[DManA]

EXTREMELY COSTLY however: $35,000-$50,000 for every intercepted rocket

That is why replacing them with an energy beam device if and when they are available would be so sweet.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: $35,000-$50,000 for every intercepted rocket

(For the Obamacare bean counters)... How many lives will it be worth saving to spend $50,000 for?

[Katechon]

I'm no anti-rocket scientist, but I'll try to understand what is unfolding here.

Do I get the basic right?:

Israel's state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd and U.S. firm Raytheon Co. are developping a "multi-tier missile shield" under the guidance of David "Magic Wand" Sling.

Iron Dome is the lowest tier.

The top-most tier is Israel's Arrow ballistic interceptor.

Is this an Arrow anti-ballistic missile interceptor?

OK, -WHAT AM I MISSING?

[Katechon]

I this David Sling?

[Katechon]

[DManA]

The only thing you are missing is what I'm speculating about for a future upgrade.

The current system intercepts an enemy missile with a very expensive one use missile.

When the directed energy devices are perfected you could replace the intercept missiles with an energy device and the cost/intercepted missile would plummet.

Last thing I read was they were testing such devices in US Air Force planes so this capability doesn't seem to be that far fetched.

[NonValueAdded]

There was a story earlier about how the marginal cost of a defense rocket would come down to about $1,000 when produced in volume. Contrast that with the extremely expensive assault rocket that has a huge delivery (smuggling) cost, even if it was as inexpensive to make. Advantage: Israel.

[Katechon]

Thank you. That was pretty clear. STEP 1:

STEP 2: DAVID'S SLING

STEP 3: "energy devices"

[SeekAndFind]

RE: $35,000-$50,000 for every intercepted rocket – and to be fully effective its coverage would need to be significantly expanded...

_____________________

Hamas’ military wing, the al Qassam brigade, said it fired 1,573 rockets toward Israel during the hostilities, including three shot toward Jerusalem.

Let’s use the high end cost of $50,000 to calculate and round the number of rockets fired to 1,600.

That means for a mini-war like this, Israel shall have spent -— $50,000 X 1,600 = $80 Million to protect her citizens.

I wonder how much it would cost if Iran were to send rockets instead of Hamas...

[Katechon]

Iron Dome won't launch on missiles that will not fall into the protected area.

That why it is sold as 'cost-effective.'

I wonder what's the ratio of islamic rockets that fell in nowhere land. Especially since those bearded savages didn't have no guiding-system for a while...

[Katechon]

What's a BMC??

[marron]

Probably the Iranians encouraged Hamas to attack just so they could analyze Iron Dome for any weaknesses they can exploit.

[marron]

Or maybe the Russians. They are on hand to watch the show. Maybe for a reason.

[Katechon]

The iranians and hamas relationship has soured greatly since the Syrian uprising. I'm addressing the issue here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2963093/posts

[marron]

Thanks; I’ll read it.