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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Israel successfully tests Iron Dome rocket defense system |
| 2009-03-27 |
| The Defense Ministry said on Thursday 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. In about four months' time, the Israel Defense Forces will establish a battalion in its anti-aircraft division to operate the Iron Dome system. Defense officials predict that the system will be up and running by next year and will protect 95% of people in the area around Sderot and Ashkelon from rockets and mortars fired from the Gaza Strip. The defense establishment recently acquired rabbinical approval for workers from Rafael, the Israel Arms Development Authority, to work on Saturdays and conducts the tests 24 hours, seven days a week. The announcement of the successful tests comes just a few weeks after the State Comptroller released a report predicting that the project was still far from completion. The report, released at the beginning of March, said the project had been hindered by financial waste and bureaucratic problems. In 2007, the government approved funding for the system, which is designed to intercept short- and medium-range rockets such as Qassams and Katyushas. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #11 Thanks, ed. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2009-03-27 22:30 |
| #10 How much would an ArcLight run over Gaza in response to a mortar attack cost? How many times would it need to be repeated? Could we loan them the B-52's if Israel provides the iron? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-03-27 22:12 |
| #9 First off, I think they should have used a gun-based system in addition to a missile system. Something like Centurion, that's available more or less off the shelf, and doesn't need a huge network (although a network would probably be helpful). They could just put up a couple of those units first and then worry about working them into a network later. Second, They could have also found a cheaper missile than whatever they used; I think the cost of the British starstreak is much cheaper, but I can't find a figure now. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2009-03-27 18:13 |
| #8 $100,000 - An examination of the economic aspect also casts grave doubts on the decision to choose Iron Dome. The cost of each intercept missile will probably be about $100,000. (Rafael claims the cost of a missile will be about $40,000, but given the cost of similar missiles, that does not seem reasonable.) $100 - In addition to development, the cost of one disposable component – the interceptor – makes daily operation prohibitively expensive. The original estimated cost of $25,000 for one interceptor missile has crept steadily up. When compared to the cost of the crude Qassam missiles that Iron Dome shoots down – a mere $100 – the project's operational costs seem exorbitant. $20 - From smallwarsjournal.com ppt presentation on Iraq black market prices 10/2003: “there is a vibrant international black market for the missiles in which an Sa-7 can fetch as ... terrorists of using Iraq public market as a weapons source. Weapon 10/03 ... Market price ... CDI Buyout price. RPG-7 rockets $20 $25. C-4 / military TNT block 1kg $50 $200 60mm mortar tube $1000 $3000 60mm mortar $10 $20 82mm mortar $20 $50 107mm rocket $200 $400 122mm Artillery Shell $100 $750 |
| Posted by: ed 2009-03-27 15:31 |
| #7 Shoulda called it "Chrome Dome"... |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-03-27 14:57 |
| #6 $100,000 missiles vs a $20 mortars or $100 Qassams? Where are you getting your prices from? |
| Posted by: Pappy 2009-03-27 14:42 |
| #5 The trade-off isn't a $100,000 missile defense against a $100 Qassam. The trade-off is against the damage a Qassam causes. How much is a room full of school kids worth? A blown-up grocery store? Plus I suspect the Israelis will find a working missile defense comes in quite handy in the near future. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2009-03-27 14:36 |
| #4 Good point there rammer. |
| Posted by: Hellfish 2009-03-27 08:47 |
| #3 Money is cheaper than being vulnerable. Economies of scale and what not. Besides, killing the dream of resistance is half the battle. Shoot it down. |
| Posted by: rammer 2009-03-27 01:11 |
| #2 Word, ed. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-03-27 00:37 |
| #1 $100,000 missiles vs a $20 mortars or $100 Qassams? Are the Israelis hedging against national bankruptcy by selling Anti-missile Default Swaps? |
| Posted by: ed 2009-03-27 00:22 |