WarSclerotic

Still basking in first historic interception of rockets last month

PALMACHIM AIR BASE, Israel — “Two Scuds launched from Syria,” says an Israeli Air Force lieutenant colonel in command of an Arrow 2 anti-ballistic fire control center.

“This is a drill, this is a drill,” a female voice crackles over the loudspeakers.

Nevertheless, the young officers at the control panels eagerly follow the radar tracking of the rockets closing in on central Israel and prepare an air defense response to launch interceptors. 

“The fire button is not so sexy,” says the commanding officer, who could only be identified as Lt.-Col. O. “It’s the F-2 button on the keyboard. Once I press it, I give authorization for the system to do what I have programmed it to do.”

Israel’s air defense network is arguably one of the densest in the world. Not only are all aircraft in the region monitored, but also every drone, rocket and missile launch is detected and monitored from as close as the Gaza Strip to as distant as Iran, some 1.300 kilometers (810 miles) away.

“It‘s not a secret that Israel is being threatened by rockets and missiles from a very short range to a very long range,” says Brig.-Gen. Doron Gavish, head of the IAF Air Defenses. “The Israeli Defense Forces came up with a concept in order to counter this threat based on attack, early warning, active defense and passive defense.”

Officers and soldiers were still euphoric a month after the successful interception of an incoming rocket fired by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by the Iron Dome system, a home-grown anti-rocket weapon designed to shoot down short-range missiles.

In March, two Iron Dome batteries were rushed in to field operation before the system had completed its final development to meet an escalation of tensions along the border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Last month, the batteries successfully intercepted eight out of nine Grad-type rockets fired at Israeli cities. 

“This is the first time in history that such a system was being deployed and it is the first time in history that a missile shot one of the rockets,” Gavish told The Media Line on a visit to air defense installations.

The Air Force recently integrated a national Ballistic Picture Control Center (BPCC) in order to enhance its early warning capabilities. It was part of a reorganization of the Air Defense Corps, which also changed its name from Anti-Aircraft Corps to reflect its role in shooting down rockets and missiles. (The last time it shot down an aircraft was during the 1982 Lebanon War.)

While Israel’s traditional enemies like Syria and Lebanon have most outdated combat air craft, other states in the region such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which has a peace treaty with Israel, are equipped with top-of-the-line warplanes.

Asked if the recent upheaval in Egypt was changing the focus of Israel’s air defense strategy, the senior officer said Israel was constantly on alert for all possible threats.

“The weather here is beautiful. The view fantastic, but the neighborhood is challenging,” he quipped. “This is why we need a strong air force with a classic anti-aircraft defense. We have even increased the number of anti-aircraft batteries and built up our battle order to meet against any scenario.”

The Israeli active defense against missiles included the Arrow 2 for long-range ballistic missiles, U.S.-made Patriot batteries for anti-aircraft and mid-range missiles and the Iron Dome to intercept short-range rockets like Grad, Katyushas and Qassams fired by the Hizbullah in Lebanon or the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

“Israel and the IDF will introduce in the coming years some new systems, one of them is David’s Sling and the other one is the Arrow next generation,” Gavish said. 

Each Iron Dome battery costs some $80 million. A senior officer said Israel is planning to procure another six to 11 batteries so that the entire area under missile threat is covered. A top Israeli defense official was quoted as saying last week that the Ministry of Defense planned to invest $1 billion for development and manufacturing of Iron Dome defenses. This reportedly included a U.S. grant of $205 million.

The officer, who spoke on condition he not be identified, said that last month’s successful interception had created deterrence against further rocket strikes.

“If the ones who are firing the rockets understand that you can now intercept them, it is more problematic for them,” he said. “They will understand that there would be an act of active defense (by Israel) so I think it’s helping deterrence.”

The Israeli defense establishment’s expensive focus on building an anti-missile shield was given great impetus by the 34-day war with Hezbollah in 2006. During that conflict, Hezbollah fired nearly 4,000 rockets into northern Israel, putting nearly one million Israelis under threat.