Raytheon teams with Israel on missile-intercept system

(Arizona daily star ) : Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems is teaming up with an Israeli defense partner to further develop and market a mobile missile-defense system to the U.S. military.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., an Israeli government enterprise, will work with Raytheon to market the Iron Dome weapon system.
Israel began deploying the system earlier this year to intercept unguided rockets, artillery shells and mortar rounds fired from the Gaza Strip. Since first being fielded near Beersheba in March, the system has been credited with at least one successful intercept of a short-range missile.
"This is such an effective system, that we plan to bring parts of their system over to meet some U.S. needs as well," said Mike Booen, vice president of advanced security and directed energy systems for Raytheon Missile Systems.

Booen said Raytheon plans to marry Iron Dome's Tamir interceptor missile with U.S. radar and control elements of the Land-based Phalanx Weapon System.
That mobile system, adapted from a naval system, is being used to protect troops from rocket and mortar fire in Iraq and Afghanistan. The system uses onboard radar to autonomously track incoming threats and destroy them with a hail of gunfire from a 20-millimeter cannon.
"It's been quite effective, it's intercepted lots of mortars that were shot at U.S. and allied troops," Booen said. "If we married up an Iron Dome capability - also an existing, combat-proven system - we can really extend the range of defense."
The Iron Dome system includes a mobile launcher with 20 Israeli-made Tamir interceptors that use electro-optical sensors to home in on short-range munitions.
With other systems, the Iron Dome adaptation could be used as part of a "layered defense" against threats of varying ranges, Booen said, adding that the company is aiming to have its hybrid system ready for testing next spring.
Raytheon already is working with Rafael to develop the David's Sling Weapon System, which uses interceptor missiles to defend against short-range ballistic missiles, large-caliber rockets and cruise missiles.
In May, a senior Israeli official said Israel plans to spend $1 billion to buy Iron Dome systems. The U.S. also has committed $205 million to help Israel buy the systems.
Booen said other allied nations facing short-range threats might also be interested in the new system, though he declined to discuss possible customers.
Defense analyst John Pike of Globalsecurity.org said it makes sense for Raytheon to adapt Iron Dome to a new system, given its apparent success, but few nations face the kind of short-range threat that Israel deals with.
Potential customers like India and South Korea face longer-range ballistic-missile threats, he noted.
"I don't know that this will be particularly attractive to them, but it's combat-proven," Pike said.