Peretz chooses Rafael short-range rocket defense system
Rafael: Development of the system will take two years and cost NIS 1 billion.
Globes’ correspondent 1 Feb 07 18:50
“IDF Radio” (Galei Zahal) reports that Minister of Defense Amir Peretz has decided to procure Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd.’s interception system against short-range rockets. The system fires an interceptor missile against incoming rockets.
The decision will be sent to the prime minister for approval on Sunday.
Peretz criticized his predecessors for postponing the decision, saying that they relied too much on luck. “In recent years, the joint program with the US was halted. The decision to stop was based on very important considerations. On the other hand, Israel cannot allow itself to look at the statistics of rocket damage, because we must look at the threat as a threat to Israeli morale,” he said.
Sources at Rafael estimate that development of the system will take two years and cost NIS 1 billion. They believe that the necessary funding will have to be found outside the defense budget.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on February 1, 2007
