December 10, 2006 :: UPI :: Analysis
Israel desperately needs a short-range anti-rocket defense system, as demonstrated by Hezbollah's bombardment of northern Israel in July-August 2006, writes Martin Sieff in the UPI. Yet Israel has recognized significant development problems with its two possible solutions: Northrop Grumman's Skyguard, a high-energy chemical laser system; and Lockheed Martin's Sky Shield, a conventional rapid-fire cannon. Skyguard, developed in conjunction with the U.S. Army and the Israeli Defense Forces, was expected to be the IDF's first choice. The system is based on technology developed for the highly successful Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL). Yet according to
All Headline News, Israel has suspended its participation in the project. "The point of contention appears to an inability to increased Skyguard's range to 6 miles [9.6 km]," AHN reported. "With its current range of only 1.8 miles [2.9 km], deploying Skyguard along Israel's entire northern border would be prohibitively expensive." The second option, Sky Shield, successfully destroyed a replica of Palestinian-made Qassam rocket in a recent lab test, according to the Israeli newspaper
Ha'aretz. But since the rocket was not in flight, the system has not yet proven itself capable of intercepting incoming Qassams. Much more development may be needed. "It is far too early to write off either system, especially given the relatively meager resources that have so far been allocated to developing either of them," Sieff notes. "But time is not on the Israelis' side, and they may have to choose fast."
(Article)
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