Israel tests system to shoot down Iranian missiles

[Akoto]

Source: Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel successfully tested an anti-missile system designed to protect the country against Iranian attack, the Defense Ministry said, perfecting technology developed in response to failures of similar systems during the 1991 Gulf War. The intercept of a dummy missile was the 17th test of the Arrow system, a U.S.-Israeli joint venture. Israeli defense officials said the interceptor was an upgraded Arrow II, designed to counter Iran's Shahab ballistic missile.

Israel has identified Iran as its biggest threat, citing the country's nuclear program and its development of long-range ballistic missiles. Those fears have been compounded by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's repeated calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.

Israel believes Iran is developing nuclear weapons that could pose a threat to its existence. Iran denies that and says its nuclear work is for peaceful purposes such as energy production. Israel has threatened military action, and Iran has said it would strike back, warning last month that Israel's own nuclear facilities were within missile range.

Iran's Shahab-3 missiles have a range of up to 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers), putting Israel well within striking distance. Iranian officials were not available for comment on the Israeli test.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_ISRAEL_MISSILE_TEST?SITE=CACRU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[cboy4]

1. Excellent news.

:thumbsup:



In this photo made available by Israel Aerospace Industries Tuesday, April 7, 2009 shows an Arrow missile, part of an anti-missile system, launched in a test off Israel's Mediterranean coast in central Israel. Israel successfully tested an anti-missile system designed to protect the country from attack by Iran, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
(AP Photo/Israel Aeorospace Industries)

[cosmicone]

2. Iran has no interest in attacking Israel

but hopefully this will calm Israeli nerves.

Iran wants nukes as a deterrent and not as an offensive weapon which is obvious to the whole world.

[auburnblu]

13. Every time I hear the Iranian leader

I certianly get the feeling that there is no intention to harm Israel at all. He clearly speaks as if he supports the right of Israel to exist.

[Traveling_Home]

3. I thought Ballistic Missle Defense didn't work - was unproven?????? nt

[Sebastian Doyle]

5. What better system could you have

...to shoot down weapons that don't exist?

[Traveling_Home]

6. Well, the US, Russia, China, UK, have those "weapons that don't exist" - maybe somebody is ...

working on a Ballistic Missle Defense that will stop not only MYTHICAL (sigh) North Korean and Iranian Ballistic Missles, but all Ballistic Missles.

Is the technology discussible in those terms?

I thought the latest bit was that Ballistic Missle Defense doesn't work - Unproven? And all the talk about the US or Japan being prepared to shoot The NK Missle down if need be? What gives?

[Nihil]

9. So does Israel ... but Iran doesn't (and that was the reference). (n/t)

[hack89]

11. Some BMD systems work reasonably well

or at least have had a lot of success in test shots - the AEGIS system is the best example. Other systems like GBI or ABL are more pie in the sky.

[Angleae]

12. Not so mythical iranian ballistic missiles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahab-3

[Fumesucker]

10. BMD could be made to work..

However effective countermeasures against any reasonable BMD system are cheap and easy to implement.

So theoretically BMD could work but in the real world its efficacy would almost certainly be very low against a determined and reasonably proficient opponent.

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. Alaska tests system to shoot down Reindeer-driven sleighs.

Sarah's comin' to get your ass, Santa. You commie toy redistributing bastard!!

[spag68]

7. Santa

What's in that pipe that he's smoking? Santa has a red beard, must be a communist, Long hair and a beard, must be a pacifist. Arlo Guthrie

[leveymg]

8. Hope it makes Israel feel secure. Take a deep breath. Relax, Bubbie. Exhale.