Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Israelis Successfully Test Arrow Missile Defense Against Mock Iranian Shihab


It appears that the Israelis are staying a step ahead of the mullahs in Iran as the Israelis have successfully tested an intercept missile from their Arrow program - an Israeli aircraft fired a mock version of the Iranian Shihab missile from out in the Meditteranean Sea, then fired an Arrow defense missile that indeed did intercept and destroy it. All of this comes from the Iranian threats of using longer and longer range missiles along with the ongoing rumor of Iranian nuclear weapons becoming a reality. Here's some of the details from the report at Haaretz:


The defense establishment carried out a successful test launch of its Arrow II interceptor missile on Tuesday, a system designed to defend against possible ballistic missile attacks by Iran and Syria. The Arrow intercepted a target missile, simulating an Iranian Shihab, launched from an Israeli aircraft over the Mediterranean, a defense source said.

At least two Arrow batteries have been deployed in Israel, which has been testing the system to improve its performance at high altitudes and against multiple incoming missiles.
One has to believe that there is a sense of urgency in Israel to keep up state of the art defenses and that's not only because of the growing threats of attack by Iran, Syria and Hezbollah. No, one other major issue has to trouble the Israelis and that is support from the United States. I don't think many Israeli officials doubted George W. Bush's resolve to defend Israel militarily (even though Bush wimped out late in his Presidency concerning Iran) but now, with Barack Obama in charge, there has to be more of a question regarding that rush to defend.

It's always been my observation of Israel that by the time we hear about a new defense system or new technology of attack, they are already 95% done with the next generation of a new system that we have no clue about. I hope that continues as it appears they will more than likely be on their own.


Israel test fires Arrow missile defense system

The defense establishment carried out a successful test launch of its Arrow II interceptor missile on Tuesday, a system designed to defend against possible ballistic missile attacks by Iran and Syria. The Arrow intercepted a target missile, simulating an Iranian Shihab, launched from an Israeli aircraft over the Mediterranean, a defense source said. Israel Radio said it was the 16th test launch of an Arrow. The defense source said 90 percent of those tests have been successful.

The project is jointly funded by Israel and the United States to serve as a strategic shield against ballistic missiles in the arsenals of Iran and Syria. At least two Arrow batteries have been deployed in Israel, which has been testing the system to improve its performance at high altitudes and against multiple incoming missiles.

Israel fears that Iran's uranium enrichment program is aimed at producing nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran denies. Last month, the Defense Ministry said it had successfully completed a series of tests of the Iron Dome rocket defense system. The ministry said the system is aimed at protecting the residents of the South and North from attacks. It said a number of rockets and missiles had been hit in the tests.

2 comments:

Esquerita said...

I'd like to thank we would cut ALL foreign aid to anyone until our economy and infrastructure are solvent. Our swelling ranks of unemployed go without health insurance while billions go to Israel (or anyone)?
Bush said no to an attack on Iran because such and attack would instantly put gas at the $9-10 a gallon range for the time being and most Americans don't want that. Call it "cowardly" if you like but that's a fact.

Israel is right not to assume that Americans are ready to die in her defense. Maybe they are on the path to finding a way off of America's welfare rolls as well.
Put America first.

Esquerita said...

"Don't deserve to continue as a country" - pretty harsh Holger. I'd bet most Americans are not willing to fight or send their children to fight a war just to defend Israel against Iran or whoever. We didn't jump to their defense in '67. Israel is strong and they can defend themselves without us.

But your question -
No - we can sit on the fence for another 60 years probably. We need the Arabs oil - the Arabs need our cash from buying up the oil. I'm still trying to figure out what Israel has that we just can't live without.
I don't believe I need to support Israel to go to heaven - I think the "chosen people" deal was off when the "chosen people" rejected Gods son. Jesus died for everyone - not just the Hebrews.
Our foreign policy should not be based on any biblical interpretation but rather on the realpolitik of putting America's needs first.