WarSclerotic

“30 Bombs could be Produced in a Year”.

IDF Chief of Staff Gantz and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Steinitz spoke today at the IsraelDefense C5I Conference. Steinitz: “Iran could attain enrichment with 54,000 centrifuges.” Gantz: “Not a day goes by where we aren’t in a decision-making situation that could cause regional deterioration”

Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s Minister of Strategy, Intelligence and International Relations Affairs spoke today at the IsraelDefense C5I Conference, held in cooperation with the Israeli Signal Corps Association and the Israeli Electronics and Software Industries Union. The conference is held with the participation of the IDF C4I Branch, the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the leading Israeli defense industries. Steinitz discussed the topic of the Iranian threat, and said among other things that “the events and the situation in Syria, the Sinai and Gaza should not distract from the most critical issue, which is the prospect of a nuclear Iran.”

“The Iranian nuclear program is a ‘game changer’, a ‘black swan of sorts, or a ‘black vulture’ and it will change Israel’s situation, the situation in the Middle East and perhaps even the situation around the world. Iran’s ambition is to change the global balance of power from end to end, between Islam and the West.

“Iran is not North Korea or Pakistan – its nuclear industry is several dozen times bigger than that of those two countries. There is an extensive nuclear industry which was not built to produce several bombs, but to produce sufficient fissile material for dozens and even hundreds of nuclear bombs. The issue is not of a nuclear country, but the possibility of the creation of a nuclear power. Iran is presently enriching 12,000 centrifuges in its Natanz facility, and it plans to reach the enrichment of 54,000 centrifuges. It will be able to enrich enough uranium to produce 20-30 nuclear bombs each year. In addition, it is already enriching tens of thousands of centrifuges at the facility in Qom.

“Within a decade, it could reach more than 100 nuclear bombs. This is not about the risk of ayatollahs with a few bombs stored in the basement, but a genuine danger to the well being of the world.

“Even if it takes Iran more time to produce hydrogen bombs, it will make up for it by producing tens of bombs per year. It already has missiles aimed at Israel, missiles that cover a considerable portion of the European continent, and it is doing its best to develop satellite launchers – which are really a cover for intercontinental ballistic missiles.” According to Minister Steinitz, Iran could possess such missiles within a period of three to four years.

Small, equipped, flexible and lethal ORBAT
Speaking at the start of the International C5I Conference in Israel, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz discussed the current situation in the Middle East. “We are currently living in a defensive strategic environment where the most obvious thing is the absence of stability.” According to Gantz, the absence of stability is the only sure thing for the time being. “While the past 40 years were characterized by large-scale, broad and stable threats, this has been replaced by long-range fire capabilities and terrorism, and this is the current reality. Not a day goes by where we are not dealing with a decision-making situation that could result in comprehensive regional deterioration. We are in a combat environment that is more complex than before and a multi-arena dimension against targets looking to vanish, targets against which we have to act quickly and precisely.

“We require many tanks, aircraft, infantry forces and collection systems, but the era of ORBAT masses no longer exists. We must now utilize the technological developments and manpower. A small ORBAT that is equipped, quick, flexible, shielded, lethal and ready. Qualitative intelligence and a systemic, multi-branched and tactical network is what will enable us to do this.

“The nature of war has not changed, and it remains a combat area of friction and uncertainty, and what is most important is the leadership – we cannot rely on just the technologies. Even in the future battlefield, someone eventually charges forward.

“Today, in light of the budgetary cuts, it is not enough that the product be good – it must also be operationally suitable so that it will improve effectiveness and combat capabilities in a maximal manner, and the industries must also adapt themselves with regards to the budgetary constraints.”

This entry was posted on May 22, 2013 at 2:14 PM and is filed under Uncategorized. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.