With eye on Iran, Israel tests missile defence system

JERUSALEM – Israel’s Defence Ministry said Tuesday it conducted a series of successful live fire drills with its multi-range missile-defence system, providing protection against threats posed by arch-enemy Iran and its proxies along Israel’s northern and southern borders.

Defence officials said it was the first time they have conducted an integrated test bringing together the various components of the country’s “multilayer” missile defence. They are the “Arrow,” which intercepts long-range missiles; “David’s Sling,” meant to shoot down medium-range missiles; and the “Iron Dome,” which has been used for years to defend against incoming rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

Moshe Patel, head of Israel’s Middle Defence Organization, said the drill “demonstrated a multi-layered approach to dealing with threats” that incorporates all three systems.

“Using this approach, a variety of threats may be identified and intercepted via full co-ordination and interoperability between the systems,” he said.

Israel faces a wide range of rocket and missile threats from Palestinian militants in Gaza, from the Iranian-backed Shiite militant group Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon, and from Iran. Officials have expressed concerns about Iran’s development of long-range weapons and what they say are Hezbollah attempts to import or develop guided missiles capable of striking virtually anywhere in Israel with great precision.

Brig. Gen. Ran Kochav, head of the Israeli Air Force’s air defence program, said the drill had simulated a series of threats and involved complex human and computerized decision making. He said it was a major accomplishment to intercept a cruise missile, which he said are tricky targets because of their speed, altitude and manoeuvrability.

“What was special with this test is that it was a live drill dealing with a concrete scenario. You can understand the geopolitical situation in the Middle East has changed,” he said. “It advances us operationally and technologically, and allows us to absorb these advanced systems into the air force, carry out evaluation and training and knowledge so that we can get better.”

Israel has developed the various missile defences in conjunction with the United States. Tuesday’s drill was conducted with the U.S. Missile Defence Agency, officials said.

The test was conducted over the Mediterranean Sea and tested the systems’ capability to intercept a range of aerial targets from drones to larger and longer range ballistic missiles.

Pini Yungman, head of the air and missile defence division at state-owned Israeli defence contractor Rafael, said the results were “magnificent” and “all the targets were destroyed in all the tests, and no threat, no target remained in the air after the interception.”

Patel said it was too early to begin selling these weapons systems to Israel’s new allies in the Middle East — the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. “This is something that can be considered potentially in the future.”