Abbattere i razzi kassan in volo.

[TT-1 Pinto]

"Iron Dome" .... una lezione per gli Stati Uniti ....

 

Iron Dome’s Lessons for the U.S. ....

 

The success of the Iron Dome missile shield over Israel last week in downing nearly 90% of incoming missiles its software deemed threatening is already being used as justification for more ambitious missile defenses.

Fonte .... http://nation.time.com/2012/11/26/iron-domes-lessons-for-the-u-s/

 

 

Intanto si sta approntando il trait d'union fra "Iron Dome" e "Arrow" .... la "Fionda di Davide" ....

 

Israel Says Successfully Tests More Powerful Rocket Interceptor ....

 

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 Nov. 20 desert trial that coincided with fierce shelling exchanges between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Fonte .... http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_11_26_2012_p0-520769.xml

[Andrea75]

... notizie sul successore (o forse l'integratore) di Iron Dome: Successful Experiment for Magic Wand

 

The Magic Wand Defense System has successfully completed a first experimental interception of short and mid range missiles. The system is to operate as an additional defense layer against missile threats alongside the Iron Dome, Patriot, and Arrow.

The Magic Wand Defense System has successfully completed a first experimental intersection. The experiment was conducted by the "Wall" administration which works as part of the experimental management, developing ammunition and technology infrastructure for the Israeli Ministry of Defense alongside the American MDA (Missile Defense Agency).

This is the first experiment for the Israeli Ministry of Defense with the advanced system, which is manufactured by "Rafael Advanced Defense Systems" and the American "Raytheon" company. The details of the experiment will allow the advancement process of the system and further examinations intended to test its technological capabilities in preparation for actual operation.

The Magic Wand System was developed to provide an additional layer of security against short and mid range missiles aimed towards Israel. It is to join forces with Iron Dome, Patriot and the Arrow systems, as the future of the Aerial Defense Formation. The system is capable of intercepting surface-to-surface missiles and rockets in low to middle altitudes, in ranges that could protect the entire State of Israel.

Minister of Defense Ehud Barak congratulated the final experiment results and said that "The tremendous success of the Iron Dome during Operation Pillar of Defense demonstrates the immense importance of anti-missile systems. Israel leads in this domain thanks to the Israeli defense industries and its people".

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=79FmQtN7g4Q

 

 

Israel successfully test fires Magic Wand, Iron Dome successor

 

The International Business Times website has run an article that states that Israel has test fired an updated and upgraded interceptor missile called “Magic Wand also known as David’s Sling.”

The interceptor is a joint program between Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and US Raytheon thought to enter service in 2014. Testing of the missile system was originally planned for 2013 but due to recent events in that area (Israel) the testing program was brought forward in the hope of improving on Israels claimed 90% success rate for Iron Dome.

...

Magic Wand (David’s Sling) will have an effective range of around 70 km and will be effective against both short range and ballistic targets. It will fill the gap between the short-range Iron Dome and the long-range Arrow 2 ballistic missile defense program.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=G294VnEZgi0

[Andrea75]

The Economics of the Iron Dome

 

he Israelis have spent, if I have gauged the press reports correctly, something like $800 million on development, production, and deployment over the past eight years. They have four batteries near Gaza in a first batch, and a fifth in a second batch that just came on line. They're looking to spend another $70 million shortly, for another four batteries in that latter batch to defend the north. Each interceptor missile appears to cost slightly more than $50,000; the Israelis shot about 500 of those in the past two weeks, so prime contractor Rafael just got something above $25 million more for ammunition. Like many things Israeli, a large chunk of that money ($275 million) will have come from the United States, but analytically, it was considerable investment.

 

We don't know much about the Qassam rockets and those of other types, but I recurrently see the estimate of $800 for raw materials as the cost of a round. (This seems to have come from a factory visit by a reporter from Der Spiegel.) Hamas has shot, in this campaign and previous ones, something just under 10,000 rounds to date, so they've blown through less than $8 million in fertilizer and steel. In the current battle, according to Israeli Defense Forces Headquarters, they shot about 1500 rockets, so about $750,000 in basic ingredients recently.

 

That sounds like the numbers are hugely in the Gazans favor, but there are two more issues to consider.

 

First, just roughly guessing at the raw materials cost is totally to exclude the assembly, transportation, tunnel digging, and everything else needed to set up and employ firing batteries. All that stuff is included in the estimate of the cost of the Israeli defenses, so the such a comparison would be lopsided.

 

Second, even if they were paying for all of this themselves, the Israelis could afford it. There are three reasons for this, one technical, one macroeconomic, and one microeconomic. The last one is either pretty alarming or just an indication that something is wrong with the numbers.

 

1. Technically speaking, the Qassams are not spin-stabilized; consequently, they're so inaccurate that only about a third even get close to populated areas. This means that the Israelis can hold their fire against the ones going wide. Indeed they do—the IDF only shot at 500 or so rounds, intercepting 421, for a success rate of 84%. That implies that the Israelis didn't bother with something around 1000 of the incoming.

 

2. Macroeconomically speaking, Israel is a wealthy country, and Gaza is dirt poor. The $875 million or so (if thats the right figure) that the Israelis have spent so far constitutes less than 0.4% of a single year's GDP. In US terms, that would be a $54 billion program. That's a lot of money, but it's not going to sink the treasury. For the Gazans, however, that seemingly paltry $8 million—and just in raw materials—is actually about 0.5% of a single year's GDP. So the Gazans are making a bigger commitment of their resources to shooting the rockets than the Israelis are making of theirs to shoot them down. Add the assembly, deployment, tunnel-digging, etc., and it's a much bigger commitment.

 

(That said, after running those numbers, I must say that I completely understand why the Israelis have a blockade on the place. Why let them earn even a few dollars, euros, or glass beads to turn into more rockets? If Hamas is so psychotically hellbent on destruction that they'll waste scarce fertilizer shooting at Israeli civilians, there's no telling how maniacally homicidal that crew would get with real money in its pockets.)

 

3. Microeconomically speaking, given the raw numbers, and in the big strategic context, the Iron Dome project could be taken mostly a morale booster. I do not live and die by calculations of the statistical value of life, but until the current exchange of fire, only 22 people in Israel had been killed by the first 9,000 rockets shot. On the surface, that looks like a waste of ammunition.

 

One trouble is that the Gazans may be getting better at this: those last 1500 shots killed another six. But here's what's weird. If the Israelis successfully engaged 84% of those 500 headed for actual people, then the figures are getting alarming. That would mean that the 80 or so leaking rockets killed eight Israelis. The small numbers suggest that the finding isn't something from which we'd want to extrapolate, but the raw figure is not good. I openly ask if anyone has better intelligence on this issue, for something seems amiss.

 

All that said, on that economist's other hand, if the Gazans really have gotten that much better, then $50,000 is not a lot to spend on an interceptor rocket, which explains the Israeli government's triumphant mood about the Iron Dome this past week. Paradoxically, though, the better the Gazans get, the more sensible spending on Iron Dome gets microeconomically, but only up to the point at which it strains macroeconomically. From then on, nastier strategies (see below) may be recommended.

 

Now, let me address the business aspects of this issue. I noticed this week a news story reporting that Raytheon had signed up to help Rafael market the Iron Dome internationally, and speculating that the most likely customer to target would be South Korea. That's almost obvious: Seoul is one of the few other cities in the world that's just miles away from thousands of rockets commanded by, to paraphrase Jeanne Kirkpatrick, a bizarre political conspiracy masquerading as a government. Financially, this may not be material to Raytheon's results, but it could be a big deal for Rafael. That would be interesting if one could invest in Rafael, I suppose.

 

More broadly, I think that there's a general observation to be made here about specified defenses for specific problems. Investing in something like Iron Dome can be seen in a sense similar to investing in minesweepers for the fleet or MRAPs for the ground troops. They're bought to counter something much less expensive than they are, and as such are not going to win the war on their own, but they're still a necessary investment. They work for political effect, for all war is political, and opposing sides may tolerate different levels of attrition. On that basis, the Israelis are still winning, and will continue to do so for some time.

 

Those specified defenses like minesweepers and low-altitude anti-aircraft guns also work to limit the effects of what Wayne Hughes at the Naval Postgraduate School has termed the Law of the Second-Best Weapon. He came up with this idea after observing two juxtapositions of facts. First, since 1945, most of the US Navy's losses have come from mines, but the Navy has very few minesweepers. Second, in 1982, the Argentine Air Force lost 35 jets in just three days of fighting, wrecking just four ships of the Royal Navy, but a mere two aircraft of the Argentine Navy destroyed another two ships, and without loss to themselves. Flying directly over a warship to attack it with gravity bombs is almost suicidal: if the Sea Dart didn't get you then, the Sea Wolf definitely will now. So, cruise missiles and floating bombs and Qassams actually are the best most armed forces can do against countries like the US, the UK, and Israel, even if they're actually less threatening than direct assaults. Honestly, I suppose that the cruise missiles have gotten pretty good, but that's another story. The general point is that in preparing to deal with their opponents' primary weapons, plenty of military forces underinvest in the counter to the secondary weapons. And as a result, you get episodes like those of the Atlantic Conveyor and the Coventry, and the Stark and the Samuel B. Roberts. Conversely, if you actually do over-prepare for the secondary problem, you get the IDF's performance in the 2006 Lebanon War.

 

The story for industry here is subtle. The US Navy now has eight minesweepers in the Persian Gulf, despite Vern Clark's effort to pay off the entire force. The US Army and the USMC eventually bought 20,000 MRAPs, but even without Robert Gates' indignation, they were probably on track to buy not quite a thousand. The US Army eventually spent a decent sum on its C-RAM force of truck-mounted Phalanx guns, even if they were just defensive weapons for fortified camps. And as Charles Levinson and Adam Entous recount in today's Wall Street Journal, the US government made a goodly effort to cram C-RAM into the IDF in place of Iron Dome, so the example is apropos.

 

That's because the alternative to sweeping the mines or resisting the bomb blasts or shooting down the rockets is somewhat unpalatable, simply because it's retributive. If one had no way of sweeping those mines, the alternative would be mining Iranian ports and sinking Iranian merchant shipping, until the Iranians sued for peace. If the rockets really couldn't be stopped, then at least one alternative would be threatening even nastier consequences for Gazans in return. The Israelis literally have the capacity to dissemble Gaza block by block with artillery fire. To paraphrase a famous Scottish colonel, their guns are bigger than the Gazans, and they have a lot more of them. In American terms, that's like a message to the enemy recommending that they show up with a working pen on the quarterdeck of the battleship, because that Curtiss Lemay guy has boxes of cigars stored up for a long fight.

[Andrea75]

... ancora riguardo a sistema "David's Sling's": la dichiarazione della U.S. Missile Defense Agency David’s Sling Weapons System Stunner Missile Intercepts Target During Inaugural Flight Test

 

The Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency completed the first phase of the development of the David Sling Weapon System (DSWS) by conducting a successful interception test.

This test included for the first time a successful interception by the Stunner Missile of the DSWS. The test was conducted by Rafael advanced defense systems at a test range in the southern part of Israel.

The DSWS is designed to provide an additional layer of defense against ballistic missiles by adding additional opportunities of interception to the joint U.S.-Israel Arrow Weapon System, resulting in an improvement in the State of Israel’s defense architecture against missile threats.

The prime contractor for the integration and development of the David Sling Weapon System is Rafeal, in conjunction with Raytheon.

Personnel from the Israel Missile Defense Organization and U.S. Missile Defense Agency conducted the flight test.

 

... e un articolo di commento Israel successfully tests David's Sling's interceptor

 

Defense system aims at intercepting long-range missiles, will work in conjunction with Iron Dome, Arrow, Arrow 3; test brings Israel step closer to having active defense shield against Hezbollah's arsenal of projectiles.

Israel and the US in recent days successfully tested the David’s Sling defense system, designed to stop medium-range rockets and cruise missiles, bringing the country a step closer to having an active defense shield against Hezbollah’s arsenal of projectiles.

In the test, a David’s Sling battery stationed in southern Israel fired a two-stage interceptor missile and stopped an incoming missile.

The David’s Sling is a missile defense system currently under development by Rafael in Israel and Raytheon in the US and is designed to fill the gap between Iron Dome’s short-range protection and the Arrow 2 long-range ballistic missile defense program. It is also capable of acting as a back-up to the Arrow 2, by intercepting incoming threats that manage to slip through the Arrow’s defenses.

The system would defend against Iranian missiles such as the M600, the Zelzal, Fajr and Fateh 110 deployed heavily in Hezbollah hands in Lebanon as well as other missiles with a range between 70 and 300 kilometers. It is slated to become operational in 2014.

It is being jointly developed by the Defense Ministry, the US Missile Defense Agency, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the American defense contractor, Raytheon.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak congratulated those involved in the test, adding that David’s Sling would form a significant part of Israel’s multi-layered missile defense program.

“The major success of Iron Dome batteries in Operation Pillar of Defense clarifies beyond all doubt the huge importance of missile defense programs. The State of Israel is a world leader in this field, thanks to its Israeli defense industries and their people,” Barak added.

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.”

The missile threat to Israel varies, but the IDF estimates there are about 200,000 rockets and missiles pointed in its direction from Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas.

Israel is currently concerned with the possibility of an attack from Syria. One scenario under consideration is that Syrian President Bashar Assad will try to divert attention away from his brutal onslaught against his own people by sparking a confrontation with Israel. In such an event, the firing of Scud missiles at Israel is considered possible.

David’s Sling uses the Stunner interceptor, fitted into a launcher that can hold 16 missiles. It works together with an advanced phased-array radar made by Israel Aerospace Industries. The system can also be formatted to defend Israel’s skies against enemy aircraft.

David’s Sling will operate within Israel’s multi-tiered missile defense system, protecting the country from medium-range threats. The Iron Dome system aims to intercept short-range missiles and rockets, while the country’s Arrow and eventually Arrow 3 seek to intercept long-range missiles and ICBMs.

[Andrea75]

Ecco una spiegazione che ha portato all'evoluzione della difesa missilistiva verso il progetto “David’s Sling”, alias Magic Wand: One Size Does Not Fit All: The Limits of Iron Dome

 

Iron Dome, pur funzionando bene, non è in grado di intercettare ogni minaccia missilistica

Four Iron Dome batteries were initially in operation (eight more are planned for the future) with a fifth battery – a late addition – being deployed in Tel Aviv, Israel’s largest city and financial hub. Critically, Tel Aviv was previously thought to be out of range of rockets from Gaza, but Hamas and other militant groups upgraded their missiles capabilities, and the city was repeatedly targeted during the conflict. Indeed, the Tel Aviv battery was almost immediately called into action shortly after it was installed, knocking out a rocket as it shot through the sky toward the city.

But its range (it’s able to intercept missiles fired from around 70km away) was put to the limit by the Tel Aviv attack, which is worrying for Israel because it means that it cannot intercept the longer range missiles that would be fired from Iran. What is even more worrying is that the Iranians know that it cannot. According to Iranian Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri, Iron Dome is no match for Iranian missiles, and that “what is said about this [iron Dome] is mostly psychological warfare and propaganda.” “There is,” he continued, “no iron dome in the world that we cannot pierce through.”

 

la soluzione ideata è quella di integrage Iron Dome con il sistema “Arrow”, integrato nel progetto David's Sling:

But if Iran knows Iron Dome’s limitations, so does Israel: the IDF’s ultimate goal is a multi-layered defense system that includes “David’s Sling,” also known as the Magic Wand, which is designed to intercept medium-range rockets and missiles – including the Iranian-made missiles that Hezbollah possesses – and is due to be operational in 2015.

For Iran’s own Shahab-3 missiles, Israel is preparing its even more advanced “Arrow” system. In a recent nighttime test at a military base south of Tel Aviv, the Arrow intercepted a target missile fired from a high altitude by an F-15 fighter jet designed to simulate an Iranian Shahab-3.

But in the meantime, despite Iron Dome’s success in Gaza, Israel remains vulnerable to Iranian missile attacks. This uncomfortable and inescapable fact may be one more reason that Israel’s military leaders have yet to launch the strike against Iran that they have talked about for so long.

[TT-1 Pinto]

Oltre ai nuovi missili .... Israele prende in considerazione le armi laser .....

 

Beyond Iron Dome: Israel Preps New Anti-Missiles, Eyes Lasers ....

 

Israel just proved that its new Iron Dome system can repel Hamas’ short-range rockets and missiles.

The bad news: Those weapons are nothing compared to the more advanced missiles that Hezbollah and Iran can throw at Israel, which would surely overwhelm Iron Dome.

That’s why Israel, and America, are already looking into the missile defense systems that come after Iron Dome — including ones that rely on lasers

Fonte .... http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/11/iron-dome-next/

[Andrea75]

The “Iron Dome Revolution” And The Future Of Missile Defenses

 

Last month’s eight day extended firefight between the terrorist group Hamas and Israel was much more than just the most recent round of violence in a decades-long war between some Arabs and the Jewish state. It also marked a military revolution, one with profound implications for the future of conflict and for the balance between offensive and defensive capabilities. For the first time since ballistic missiles were fielded some 68 years ago, a defensive capability was able to defeat this threat. Going by the somewhat biblical name of Iron Dome, this missile defense system successfully intercepted some 85 percent of the rockets and missiles launched against Israel. This was a heretofore unheard of success rate.

In an editorial article in today’s Wall Street Journal, Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, heralded this revolution. As he discussed, the success of Iron Dome was the result, in part, of the successful integration of a number of component technologies each of which has seen dramatic improvements in performance, speed and accuracy. Advanced sensors, high speed computers, sophisticated battle management algorithms and near real-time communications networks allowed Iron Dome not only to accurately and rapidly detect and track very short time-of-flight rockets but to predict their likely impact points. Improvements to rocket motors and missile guidance systems armed Iron Dome with a hit-to-kill interceptor capable of extremely high speed and exceptional terminal maneuverability.

In addition, and more significant in terms of a military revolution, was Iron Dome’s revolutionary concept of operations. In the past, because the defender could not be certain where an inbound ballistic missile was heading, missile defense systems were faced with the all-but insurmountable challenge of having to intercept all incoming warheads. Because the Iron Dome system could predict the likely impact point for an incoming weapon, a firing doctrine was created that only sought to engage those that were heading for built up or populated areas. Iron Dome was able to ignore about half the missiles Hamas launched. This turned the traditional cost exchange ratio between the ballistic missile offense and interceptor defense on its head.

The “Iron Dome revolution” presents a defender with a new range of engagement options. In the event of a larger attack such as might be executed by Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist organization believed to have an arsenal of some 30,000 rockets and missiles, the Israeli defenses, the Israeli military, could send its population into air raid shelters and choose to defend only critical infrastructure and military facilities. Or, employing advanced sensors, the Israeli defenses could preferentially engage larger, longer-range missiles that carry heavier payloads or possibly chemical weapons, accepting a greater level of damage from rockets with smaller payloads.

The “Iron Dome revolution” poses a unique set of challenges for the attacker. The least satisfactory solution, given the defender's options for employing his defenses, is to increase the number of rockets and missiles launched. A more likely response would be to deploy much more accurate offensive systems so that many fewer would land in open spaces. Unfortunately, for Hamas, Hezbollah and their supporters, this will mean an order of magnitude increase in the cost of a new offensive arsenal. Israel plans to deploy a three layer national defense consisting of Iron Dome, David’s Sling and the Arrow systems, thereby further complicating any attacker’s efforts. There are ways also of interfering with missile guidance systems as well as options for improving passive defenses for potential targets that will reduce their vulnerability to attack or damage.

The U.S. military, facing potential large-scale ballistic missile threats, needs to pay close attention to the “Iron Dome revolution.” Unlike Hamas and Hezbollah’s use of rockets and missiles as indiscriminate terror weapons, U.S. adversaries will employ their missile arsenals to launch coordinated, even structured attacks on military facilities, troop concentrations and naval battle groups. The Israeli experience suggests that it will be possible to undermine such attacks through the use of innovative concepts of operations and tactics for engagements based on the ability to rapidly detect and characterize such attacks. For example, the threat to U.S. airbases in the Western Pacific posed by Chinese conventionally-armed ballistic missiles may be rendered moot if a defense can hold off the attack just long enough for aircraft to be launched. The idea behind the Reagan era Strategic Defense Initiative was not to destroy all incoming warheads but to disrupt the structure of a first strike thereby guaranteeing that the Soviet Union would suffer a devastating retaliatory blow. This required the defense to preferentially target certain incoming Soviet missiles and to preferentially defend certain targets, which was extremely difficult to do with the technologies of the 1980s. As Iron Dome demonstrated, a preferential defense is now quite feasible.

The U.S. helped the development of Iron Dome with both financing and technical expertise. There have even been proposals for the U.S. to buy Iron Dome batteries. What could be even more valuable is the development and deployment of a sensor, battle management and communications network for U.S theater missile defenses as capable as that demonstrated by Iron Dome

[Andrea75]

India Expresses Desire for Iron Dome System

 

India wants the Iron Dome defense system. Defense News reports that India and Israel are cooperating on the development of weapons systems and that India’s main wish is to acquire the Iron Dome on a “buy and build” basis. This means India wants to acquire it and obtain a license from Israel for its manufacture.

An Indian source told Defense News that Israel had agreed to sell the system to India, but was hesitant about selling the technology needed to manufacture it. The U.S., which helped fund the Iron Dome’s development, has not said publicly whether it backs the deal.

According to the Indo-Asian News Service India is the largest customer of Israeli military equipment and Israel is the second-largest military partner of India after Russian with trade hovering around $9 billion.

Globes reports that the list of future projects discussed during a meeting between Ministry of Defense director general Udi Shani and India’s Defense Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma last week in India included a plan to develop aircraft-launched micro-satellites, as well as plans to develop laser-guided missiles and munitions.

According to an Israeli defense source, other possible plans include specialized radar systems, such as an airborne system for Indian-made light combat planes, and a long-range system for tracking ballistic missiles. However it is uncertain whether any agreement was reached on these plans.

[TT-1 Pinto]

Migliorie ai sistemi di avvistamento e versione più avanzata dello "Iron Dome" ....

 

Israel to boost rocket detection, tests improved Iron Dome ....

 

Fonte .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/israel-to-boost-rocket-detection-tests-improved-iron-dome-381359/

[TT-1 Pinto]

La "Fionda di David" fa fatto centro ....

 

 

David’s Sling Makes Direct Hit In Intercept Test ....

 

By David Eshel - Tel Aviv

Source: Aviation Week & Space Technology - January 28, 2013

Israeli defense contractor Rafael has validated the David's Sling missile-defense system in an intercept test, when it scored a direct hit on a target vehicle simulating a medium-range rocket.

David's Sling was developed by Israel. Rafael is the prime contractor and development authority, and Raytheon the leading subcontractor and U.S. program lead. The system is an endo-atmospheric weapon, targeting ballistic missiles and medium-range rockets, manned and unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles and guided weapons. An air-launched version is under study.

The Nov. 22 test covered a large area of the Negev desert, to test the weapon's long-range capability. The initial David's Sling unit stands up this year under the Israeli air force's active defense branch. Initial operational capability is slated for 2014.

A test video released by the defense ministry shows the intercept phases. In the first stage the target rocket is launched. The David's Sling multimission radar (MMR) detects the launch and tracks the rocket as it ascends over the horizon. Once the trajectory is determined, the battle management and control (BMC) system calculates the intercept point and orders the fire unit to launch an interceptor. In this intermediate phase the two missiles fly toward each other, with the Stunner intercept missile, developed by Raytheon and Rafael, accelerating rapidly. Upon locating the target with its two seeking sensors (one electro-optic, the other radio frequency), Stunner enters the final intercept course and strikes the target.

The David's Sling system incorporates powerful MMR, BMC and fire units. The Stunner missile is fired from a 12-pack launcher with the aid of a short-burn droppable booster. A multiband seeker (incorporating radar and imaging infrared sensors) optimizes interception under all engagement conditions, including adverse weather and countermeasures. The missile has no warhead, and uses an enhanced hit-to-kill (HTK) mechanism to destroy missiles and maneuvering aircraft. The weapon is designed for maneuverability and speed, and has target-change flexibility.

The Stunner has a unique “dolphin-nose” front section which allows both the radar and IR seeker to look forward and a three-pulse motor. The first two motor pulses accelerate the missile through its midcourse trajectory, where it maintains course to a location and then activates the seeker to acquire the incoming missile. Upon target detection, the missile determines the intercept course, as the third rocket pulse activates to increase speed and maximize kinetic energy on impact.

The missile can change course automatically or by command. The weapon is aerodynamically controlled without thrust vectoring. Two sets of four movable wings are controlled by servo systems fore and aft of the missile motor and driven by commands from the guidance electronic unit in the front section. (A third, fixed set of wings act as flow control vanes for the aft wings.) A data link receives target updates and commands from the ground.

Researchers used the Missile Defense Testbed and other engagement analysis software to simulate a hypothetical threat from a country possessing long- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles to demonstrate benefits of the Stunner. According to the assessment, a ballistic strike force comprising 600 Scud-type missiles and 200 long-range missiles, fired from 60-70 mobile launchers, could in minutes launch tens of missiles in rapid succession. Many would target critical assets, with the impact points of others uncertain, thus requiring complex threat-killing strategies.

Two defensive strategies were compared. In one, an investment of $1 billion in current missiles (e.g., MIM-104C Patriot missiles, upgraded MIM-23B Hawks and the Arrow II), each worth around $4 million, would result in 250 interceptors. To intercept the threats, defenders would need to launch at least 60 missiles, expending almost 25% of assets, against an estimated 10% of enemy inventory. With this strategy, a defensive shield would be gone after four attacks.

In contrast, by deploying David's Sling or a mix of David's Sling and existing interceptors, that same $1 billion would procure 600 Stunner interceptors, each costing less than $1 million, and 100 costlier missiles, which would be saved for special purposes. In this scenario, less than 10% of the defensive shield would be used to repel the threat (10 of the costlier missiles and 50 Stunners) and defenses would be maintained until the attacker runs out of missiles.

David's Sling will be integrated into a multilayered national defense system, receiving constant situational awareness and target updates from sensors and other assets, such as the Arrow Weapon Systems' Green Pine radar, national airspace control system and elevated sensor systems.

The Stunner is designed to be the basis for a next-generation air-to-air missile by removing the launch booster stage.

[TT-1 Pinto]

A difesa del nord ....

 

 

Israel moves Iron Dome to counter Syrian threat ....

The Israeli air force has deployed three of its Iron Dome rocket interceptor systems and one Patriot surface-to-air missile defence battery to northern Israel as the unstable situation in Syria continues.

 

Fonte .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/israel-moves-iron-dome-to-counter-syrian-threat-381965/

[TT-1 Pinto]

L'esercito indiano interessato allo "Iron Dome" ....

 

 

Indian army shows interest in Iron Dome interceptor ....

Recently, the Indian navy declared that it is not interested in the Israeli system, which achieved a 90% kill rate during recent fighting in the Gaza strip.

The army, on the other hand, is showing great interest.

 

Fonte .... http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/ariel-view/2013/02/the-dome-and-the-sling---the-rocket-threat-is-global.html

 

[TT-1 Pinto]

Il Presidente Obama ha visitato, nel corso del suo viaggio in Israele, una batteria "Iron Dome" .... mentre scoppia la polemica circa la reale efficienza del sistema missilistico ....

 

Obama Visits Israel’s Iron Dome Battery ....

 

President Obama began his trip to Israel by visiting an “Iron Dome” missile defense battery.

Israel claims that Iron Dome intercepted nearly 90 percent of Hamas rockets launched during Operation Pillar of Cloud.

However, experts are beginning to raise concerns about the effectiveness of the IDF’s rocket defense shield.

Noted missile defense skeptic Theodore Postol has conducted a partial investigation into Israeli claims about the system’s effectiveness, and argues that the IDF is wildly overstating its intercept success rate, perhaps by a factor of ten or more.

 

Fonte .... http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/20/obama-checks-out-israel-s-iron-dome.html

 

 

Video .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK8BGBzkBVI

 

 

Con la speranza che non si sia comportato come quel famigerato ragazzino terribile ....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Super87]

E' chiaro che l'Iron Dome non potrà garantire una sicurezza del cento per cento (nemmeno del 90 per cento) contro i razzi Qassam, soprattutto in caso di lanci multipli. Però possono sicuramente incrementare di molto la sicurezza delle zone poste sotto l'ombrello protettivo del sistema.

Anche riuscisse a far centro una volta su due sarebbe sicuramente una situazione migliore rispetto ad esser privi completamente di difese (come è stato fino a qualche tempo fà).

Modificato 22 Marzo 2013 da Super87

[Scagnetti]

Anche riuscisse a far centro una volta su due sarebbe sicuramente una situazione migliore rispetto ad esser privi completamente di difese.

 

Il problema è che sembra che alcuni studi parlino di un tasso di successo del 5% ovvero un razzo abbattuto una volta su venti.

 

Posto qui per comodità di tutti (il post linkato è in italiano) quanto madmike aveva postato ieri nella discussione sull'Arrow 3:

 

http://falafelcafe.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/laccusa-degli-esperti-militari-iron-dome-e-un-fiasco-intercetta-meno-del-5-dei-razzi-del-nemico/

 

ma ovviamente, la notizia deve essere verificata, visto che sarebbe assolutamente clamorosa. Devo postare anche quanto ricordato da Vorthex nella stessa discussione:

 

qua non c'è una discrepanza di qualche punto percentuale, ma una vera decable dell'80% in meno, aspettiamo altre fonti per meglio valutare.

 

[Super87]

Effettivamente se avesse una percentuale di successo del 5 per cento sarebbe un fiasco.

 

Secondo me è importante anche differenziare l'efficacia del sistema contro le diverse categorie di minaccia possibili. Mi spiego meglio: un conto è intercettare un qassam 1 (dimensioni molto contenute e gittata sotto i 5 chilometri), un conto è intercettare un Qassam M75 con una gittata sopra i 50 chilometri e lunghezza vicina ai tre metri.

 

Tipologie di razzi Qassam

[madmike]

Il qassam 1 semplicemente non si intercetta, non certo con lo Arrow.

[Super87]

Tanto per avere un'idea i BM-21 Grad hanno una portata di 20 Km, l'MLRS 30 Km, l'Uragan 35 Km e lo Smerch 70 Km.

 

Ovviamente per quanto riguarda la precisione ci sarebbe da fare un discorso a parte, ma per ciò che riguarda la portata gli ultimi modelli dei Qassan sono armi molto buone per gli obbiettivi delle milizie che li impiegano. In particolare costano poco e sono di facile costruzione.

Modificato 25 Marzo 2013 da Super87

[TT-1 Pinto]

Installata ad Eilat la quinta batteria di "Iron Dome" ....

 

Israel deploys Iron Dome to counter Sinai threat ....

 

The deteriorating security situation in the so-called "wild south" in the Sinai desert region of Egypt has prompted Israel to deploy an Iron Dome rocket interceptor system near Eilat. This is the fifth such battery to have been deployed by the Israeli air force.

 

 

 

Fonte .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/israel-deploys-iron-dome-to-counter-sinai-threat-384400/

 

[madmike]

Israele ripiomba nel terrore di essere colpita. Almeno tre razzi sono stati sparati oggi contro la città di Eilat, nota meta turistica sul Mar Rosso, senza tuttavia causare vittime. Lo ha riferito la polizia locale, precisando che a seguito dell'esplosione nell'area é partito il suono delle sirene di allarme. Secondo una prima ricostruzione l'attacco sarebbe provenuto dal Sinai: un missile, risultato essere un Grad 122 mm, sarebbe esploso in un cortile di un'abitazione. A seguito delle deflagrazione, le autorità dello Stato ebraico hanno chiuso l'aeroporto di Eilat. In queste ore il traffico aereo é però stato ripristinato. Un alto ufficiale israeliano, parlando alla radio militare ha affermato che i razzi sono stati presumibilmente sparati da un gruppo filo Al Qaeda attivo nel Sinai. Notizia, però, smentita da fonti militari egiziane citate dall'edizione araba dell'emittente Sky News, secondo cui «le affermazioni di Israele sull'origine del fuoco missilistico sono false». Il primo ministro israeliano Netanyahu, oggi a Londra per i funerali di Margaret Tatcher, ha consultato telefonicamente il ministro della difesa Moshè Yaalon e il sindaco di Eilat Yitzhak Halevy su «come rispondere» al tiro dei razzi.

 

http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2013-04-17/israele-quattro-razzi-sparati-102851_PRN.shtml

 

 

 

[TT-1 Pinto]

Si riparla dei laser ....

 

Israel May Expand Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar Use ....

By David Eshel - Tel Aviv

Source: Aviation Week & Space Technology

April 29, 2013

 

Israel has endured rocket, artillery and mortar (RAM) attacks for decades.

The country's recent success with the Iron Dome counter-RAM (C-RAM) air-defense system could lead to an expansion of the program, which might include a place for high-energy lasers.

The initial strategy was to punish and deter the enemy.

In 1996, however, the U.S. and Israel launched a collaborative program to develop Nautilus, a megawatt-level chemical laser-based C-RAM weapon.

Despite impressive performance in defeating rockets and artillery rounds in flight, the program was shelved in 2005 due to lack of interest and support by both sides.

Some of this may have stemmed from Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon in 2000.

Relative quiet on the border caused leaders to lose interest in the C-RAM weapon, which was still in the technology demonstration phase.

The defense ministry decided to skip the complex, cumbersome chemical laser and invest in high-energy solid-state lasers, which were then a decade from maturity.

RAM threats comprise a variety of types: high-speed artillery shells; small, low-signature mortars; and rockets that vary over trajectory, range and firing rates.

Since countermeasures must take effect within seconds to be effective, it is necessary to intercept such targets at distances beyond 1,000 meters (3,300 ft.) and deliver enough energy to defeat them.

For an effective laser intercept, where beam quality and brightness diminishes with range, only a high-power laser packs enough energy to defeat a fast-moving target.

For most tactical lasers, that means an effective intercept window at distances of 1,000-3,000 meters.

In 2006, when the north of Israel was attacked with thousands of rockets for more than a month, Israeli leaders realized they could not ignore the threat any longer.

Waiting for high-power lasers was not an option.

The defense ministry considered more than 20 suggestions for C-RAM weapons, and eventually decided to back the guided-missile system known as Iron Dome, which was proposed by Rafael.

Less than four years later the system was put to the test, defeating a rocket salvo from Gaza.

Months later, with four batteries deployed, Iron Dome shot down more than 500 rockets, achieving an 85% intercept rate.

Iron Dome was proved to be a success in Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012.

Nevertheless, the defense ministry is enhancing the system to meet evolving challenges and to address requirements domestically and abroad.

One of the key enhancements is the introduction of a much larger multimission radar for advanced units.

This radar will increase the range and battlespace awareness of Iron Dome units, enabling coverage of larger areas and protecting against short- and medium-range threats.

To address the needs of potential export users, Rafael is expanding the scope of Iron Dome beyond C-RAM, to provide effective very-short-range air-defense system (Vshorad) for mobile or fixed sites.

Integrating the standard Iron Dome radar or a low-level air-defense radar would result in a system with a much larger defensive footprint than Vshorad gun and missile systems.

A return to solid-state laser technology is also in sight as power and efficiency improve.

In May 2012, Northrop Grumman test-fired a ruggedized and compact high-power solid-state laser designed to form the basic module of future weapons.

The 13.3-kw, solid-state slab laser called Gamma is part of Northrop Grumman's Firestrike family of high-power lasers, which harness multiple modules to produce the power needed for weapon effects.

The Gamma demonstrator is a single building block that would be combined with chain blocks to create laser power in excess of 100 kw.

Rheinmetall Defense of Germany has test-fired a 50-kw laser at mortar shells flying at 50 meters/sec.

Company officials say that by employing Rheinmetall's Beam Superimposing Technology, a future laser weapon could deliver 100-kw output—considered the optimal power level for a C-RAM weapon.

The U.S. Navy, meanwhile, plans to deploy a solid-state laser weapon in the Persian Gulf in fiscal 2014—two years ahead of schedule.

The laser, slated for the USS Ponce, an amphibious transport dock, has shot down a drone.

 

I laser di Northrop Grumman .... http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/SolidStateHighEnergyLaserSystems/Pages/default.aspx

 

Il laser di Rheinmetall .... http://defense-update.com/20121218_rheinmetall_hel_weapon.html

Modificato 6 Maggio 2013 da TT-1 Pinto

[TT-1 Pinto]

Imminente la consegna dei primi David's Sling ....

 

Israel gets sixth Iron Dome, awaits David's Sling ....

 

As the Middle East descends deeper into conflict, Israel's military is set to deploy its sixth Iron Dome counter-rocket battery produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and prepares to take delivery of the first unit of David's Sling, another Rafael anti-missile system.

 

Fonte .... http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2013/06/28/Israel-gets-sixth-Iron-Dome-awaits-Davids-Sling/UPI-16321372448054/

 

Il nuovo sistema d'arma è stato presentato per la prima volta in pubblico il mese scorso al Salone di Parigi ....

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGRRfJ2Q_GY&feature=player_embedded

 

"June 20 - Once shrouded in secrecy, Israel's David's Sling missile interceptor went on display for the first time this week at the Paris Air Show.

Its co-manufacturers, Rafael, say the system is designed to compliment the Iron Dome defensive shield used in the Gaza conflict, and will be operational within two years."

 

 

[TT-1 Pinto]

Iron Dome .... la rete si allarga ....

 

Israel extends deployment of Iron Dome rocket defence system ....

 

Israel has extended the use of its Iron Dome rocket interceptor system, installing it in the centre of the country for the first time.

According to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the Rafael-based system has been deployed northeast of Tel Aviv as part of "operational process".

 

Fonte .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/israel-extends-deployment-of-iron-dome-rocket-defence-system-389752/

[TT-1 Pinto]

Contromisure aeree, missilistiche e .... timori ....

 

Israel Deploys New Iron Dome Batteries ....

 

Despite its constantly declining capabilities, Israel still considers the Syrian air force a viable threat.

At Ramat David Air Force Base in northern Israel, sirens go off every 2 hr. and fighters are sent scrambling, signaling that a Syrian fighter has taken a course toward the Israel border.

“The last thing we should do is to underestimate the enemy,” said Lt. Col. G., commander of an F-16C/D squadron in Ramat David.

“We don’t trust luck or coincidence. If there’s an aircraft flying towards Israel, we will be there to make sure it will not enter our airspace.”

 

Fonte .... http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_09_04_2013_p0-612784.xml

[TT-1 Pinto]

Salti di gioia ....

 

 

Jumping for joy after David’s Sling success ....

Israelis and Americans in a heavily fortified control room in a military range in southern Israel jumped for joy and expressed their feelings very loudly.

All this happened yesterday morning, seconds after two metal objects collided in the sky above the desert and filled the air with burning pieces of metal.

The radar and the fast cameras did not leave any doubt: the “Stunner” interceptor hit the incoming rocket and turned it into thousands of metal pieces.

 

Fonte .... http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/ariel-view/2013/11/davidss-sling-hit-pin-another-pin-skies/