Israel Might Buy U.S.  PAC-3 System

The Israeli air force could decide in the next week whether to buy U.S.-made Patriot Advanced Capability 3 systems to protect against missiles from Syria, the Jerusalem Post reported yesterday (see GSN, Aug. 1).

The total price tag from Lockheed Martin could come in under $50 million, said defense industry sources.

Israel now employs the Arrow missile defense system to protect against long-range missiles such as the Iranian Shahab.  The country relies on a PAC-2 system as a backup line of defense if the Arrow fails to intercept an incoming missile.

The PAC-3 system, an improved version of the PAC-2, is considered capable of stopping most Syrian missiles.  The PAC-3 employs a hit-to-kill interceptor system rather than the PAC-2’s exploding warhead.  The PAC-3’s launchers can also fire 16 missiles while the PAC-2 fires only four missiles at once.

The PAC-3 is now one of the predominant missile defense systems used throughout the world.  Lockheed Martin yesterday delivered the U.S. Army its 500th missile for the system, the Post said (Yaakov Katz, Jerusalem Post, Aug. 19).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.