Israel Boosts Missile Defense By $8 Billion

TEL AVIV: Faced with a growing missile threat, Israel will add $8 billion to improve its active and passive missile defense systems. This in addition to the money already allocated for this by the Israeli government and the U.S administration.

Israeli sources said July 24 that the additional funds reflect the “growing threat” based on updated intelligence assessments that point to the growing number of heavy rockets and long-range missiles that may be launched towards Israel if the situation in the Middle East deteriorates.

The money comes on top of the $705 million approved by the U.S. Congress for Israel’s missile defense systems, the largest American contribution to the program, which is developed jointly by Israel’s Rafael and Raytheon.

This added money has helped Israel deploy more David’s Sling air defense systems along its borders.

Rockets fired by an insurgent group in Syria as part of that country’s civil war earlier this week fell into the Sea of Galilee, according to reports, further underscoring the need for increased missile defenses.

Uzi Rubin, who headed the Israeli missile defense administration, told Breaking Defense that the added money approved by the Israeli government will allow it to develop improved versions of the Israeli-made Arrow 2 and Arrow 3: “The Arrow 2 was developed many years ago, and i think that a new version with better capabilities will be developed. The Arrow 3 designed for kinetic kill of ballistic missiles carrying unconventional warheads, is operational and i wouldn’t be surprised if an Arrow 4 will be developed.”

Rubin added that the extra budget will also allow the Israeli companies to manufacture more interceptors, and thus lower the current high unit price. Rubin said that the extra budget will also allow the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to acquire active defense capabilities to destroy rocket and missile launchers up to a 250-mile range.

The Rafael David’s Sling was developed as the second tier of Israel’s multi-tiered defense system against rockets and missiles.

The system, co-developed by Rafael and Raytheon, was declared operational in 2017. The American company also is taking part in manufacturing the system’s Stunner interceptor, as well as the system’s missile firing units. 

Boeing is working with IAI on the development of the Arrow 3.

In May, a planned live test of Israel’s Arrow 3 ballistic missile interceptor in Alaska was postponed in order to improve the system’s capabilities. The system passed its first full intercept test over the Mediterranean  in 2015 and was deployed in Israel in 2017.

In addition, Rubin pointed to Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s decision to build a new unit that will operate ground-to-ground missiles designed to free the IAF from operating in certain scenerios.

The decision to establish a ground-to-ground missile unit for Israeli ground forces was made in March, as Breaking D readers know. Lieberman approved an initial sum of $500 million from the defense budget.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has also developed a ground-to-ground missile, the LORA (Long-Range Artillery system). The LORA is a very accurate weapon system which consists of a long-range tactical ground-to-ground missile developed by IAI’s MALAM division. It is intended for strike scenarios with a range of up to 250 miles and according to the company has a 10 yards or better CEP (circular error probable, a measure of accuracy).

Sources said that investment in the new missile capability will reach about $10 billion over the next 10 years.

The new money allocated this week by the Israeli government for missile defense will, sources say, allow Israel to deploy these accurate missiles and perhaps revive efforts for a Boost Phase Intercept, dropped 20 years ago. Lasers are also being discussed, but sources concede they are unlikely to come to fruition any time soon.

Attacking a ballistic missile in its “boost” phase offers the advantage of hitting the missile during the slowest, hottest phase of its launch, when it can most easily be detected by infra-red sensors. It is also the best way to ensure that the fallout from the destroyed missile especially if it carries an unconventional warhead will hit the enemy.

The U.S Missile Defense Agency is currently working on a Boost Phase Intercept system using drones equipped with high-energy lasers — but that plan is years away, since the lasers it would need to succeed don’t yet exist. 

But equipping drones with high speed missiles could also do the job. According to the U.S media, Israel started working on a plan in 1993 to use high-flying drones armed with air-to-air missiles.

The program was called the Israeli Boost Intercept System (IBIS), and the missile was called the Missile Optimized Anti-Ballistic (MOAB). Reports in 1996 indicated a linkage between the IBIS program and the US Boost Phase Intercept studies conducted by BMDO. The drone design was completed by IAI and was believed to have the designator HA-10. The drone would have cruised at between 7-kilometer and 15 km altitude, and would carry an IRST, laser range-finder, data links and two to four missiles. 

This idea has been apparently abandoned. Can it be revived now, thanks to the increased budgets and the growing threats? Some sources dismiss the idea as “fantasy;” others say that BPI will eventually become a reality.

It seems that Israel is evaluating any optional defense against the biggest threat, ballistic missiles that Iran might arm with nuclear warheads.

According to Israeli intelligence, this dash has been accelerated.