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Last update - 00:00 14/02/2008
Ballistic expert: Israel ignoring option of U.S. anti-rocket system
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Iron Dome, Israel, Qassam 
 

Dr. Nathan Farber is a ballistic expert who has been persistently trying, to no avail, to present to the Defense Ministry what he sees as a possibly imminent solution to Qassam fire from Gaza.

Farber's suggestion is to deploy American artillery batteries called Phalanx around the Qassam-battered town of Sderot, to intercept the rockets fired by Palestinians.

The U.S. army has been successfully operating the system in Iraq, where it provides its bases with protection from rockets and mortar shells. Canada is also considering deploying it in Afghanistan.
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Farber told Haaretz his suggestion should not be rejected out of hand. He said that the system could be tested with a budget of no more than $1 million, even in the "battlefield" itself, by deploying one or two Phalanx batteries near Sderot.

But for some reason the Defense Ministry maintains his suggestion is impracticable, although it has never been tested.

Farber is not an eccentric - his credentials include vast knowledge of and experience in shells and ballistics. He is an accredited aeronautical engineer, a lecturer at the Technion, Israel's Institute of Technology, and a veteran of the Israel Military Industries (IMI).

When his tenure as the IMI missile department's chief scientist ended, he worked as an advisor to the Israel Air Force and the American Missile Defense Administration. Previously, he had been an IAF anti-aircraft officer and later senior intelligence officer.

The Phalanx anti-aircraft artillery system, manufactured by the American Reytheon company, was initially developed for battleships.

A Phalanx battery includes four 20mm-wide shells and radar that tracks the missile, assesses its trajectory and intercepts it from a range of up to a 1.5 km.

Unlike any other system, Phalanx is capable of firing up to 6,000 shells per minute, which are twice as fast as a Qassam rocket (with a speed of more than a kilometer per second). As of today, the system is installed in some IDF battleships.

Farber claims that five batteries will adequately cover the western Negev, and will not cause environmental damage. "Because of their exceptionally high speed, the shells that don't hit Qassams will land in the sea," he said, "although the chances of a direct hit are high."

For years the security establishment has stymied any initiative to develop short- and medium-range missile interception systems, claiming they were wasteful and of questionable efficiency.

Even after the Second Lebanon War, during which the missile threat on Israel's home front materialized, the Defense Ministry remained resolute. An expert panel, headed by then Defense Ministry director general Gaby Ashkenazi (the incumbent Chief of Staff), was eventually set up, following pressure exerted by then defense minister Amir Peretz.

The panel decided to commission Rafael Arms Development Authority to develop two interception systems: Iron Dome, for short-range rockets (like Qassams and Katyushas) and Magic Wand for long-range missiles (up to 200 km), to be developed in conjunction with Reytheon.

A shadow of malpractice was cast on the decision to allocate a development budget of over NIS 1 billion to Rafael, as one of the panel members, Yedidya Yaari, was the former managing director of the authority.

The problem remains that Iron Dome will be operative within three years at the earliest.

"Why not deploy Phalanx batteries in the meanwhile, and protect the residents of Sderot?" asks Farber.

"It will be cheaper, no less efficient, and above all provide immediate protection. If it's good enough for the Americans in Iraq, why can't it be good for us?"

The Defense Ministry provided no definite answer as to why Farber's suggestion hasn't been considered.

A spokesman said that "while the development of Iron Dome is underway, the security establishment continues to consider other options, including the American LUWD system. So far, we haven't found a system that meets our demands, but we continue to look into newly developed as well as existing systems."

Former deputy defense minister Ephraim Sneh said that the Ashkenazi Commission considered every available option and made its decision on a "purely professional basis. The allegations that financial motives were at issue are malicious."

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      1.   Very Strange Why No Defence System 13:42  |  Phil 14/02/08
      2.   The citizen says, obviously not enough grease... 13:57  |  Joe Sittizen 14/02/08
      3.   Article full of errors and inaccuracies 14:09  |  Axel 14/02/08
      4.   Not so strange when Americans die due to 14:15  |  Petra 14/02/08
      5.   Not surprising - Sephardim seem more expendable 14:16  |  Sephardi 14/02/08
      6.   It is not strange Phil 14:17  |  Dror 14/02/08
      7.   Why Bother? 14:18  |  Bill Foonman 14/02/08
      8.   Olmert scared Phalanx projectiles`d hit precious pals 14:43  |  Absolute Sweden 14/02/08
      9.   1.5 km range doesn`t protect 14:44  |  MOSHE 14/02/08
      10.   Typical Israeli stubborness 14:45  |  Josh 14/02/08
      11.   Israel`s reluctance to engage 14:46  |  dropoutguy 14/02/08
      12.   A system I suggested last week 14:48  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/02/08
      13.   Petra. Not so amazing really #4 14:49  |  examiner 14/02/08
      14.   THE ROYAL NAVY CRACKED IT IN 1982 14:57  |  Ian 14/02/08
      15.   nothing will happen until some Govt. member bribed 15:02  |  bribe somebody 14/02/08
      16.   "Chris" Yoýne Lintwit,it served Brit colonial interests to be V2 15:08  |  Absolute Sweden 14/02/08
      17.   How about the ""option"" of wiping out Hamas? 15:30  |  A.Dolt 14/02/08
      18.   we DEMAND an explanation from the IDF 15:33  |  read #14 (Ian) 14/02/08
      19.   Israel likes the Rockets 15:46  |  Sidney 14/02/08
      20.   On the Royal Navy and Exocets # 14 15:46  |  Clickfool 14/02/08
      21.   Why is this strange? Olmert is dumb & Barak is a moron. 15:47  |  Gary A., MD 14/02/08
      22.   Alex one question? 15:51  |  Gabriel 14/02/08
      23.   Total False Hope 16:02  |  Stan 14/02/08
      24.   Advice for Absolute Sweden # 15 16:03  |  Clickfool 14/02/08
      25.   Stupid Israeli defense establishment 16:14  |  Dror 14/02/08
      26.   Uranium 16:17  |  Leib Heller 14/02/08
      27.   ashkenazi more white than shephardi. 16:18  |  bozhidar balkas 14/02/08
      28.   Ballistic expert 16:22  |  Mary 14/02/08
      29.   A Worthless System That So Far Has Only Managed 16:30  |  Eli 14/02/08
      30.   response #3 16:38  |  tps 14/02/08
      31.   Malfeasance & corruption continue among the KROOKS... 16:38  |  bat yam 14/02/08
      32.   Please don`t tell me what to do. I know what is best for Israel. 16:46  |  ehud olmert 14/02/08
      33.   Debris, Moshe 16:48  |  Dror 14/02/08
      34.   #23 Haaretz allows this anti-Semitic crap? 17:00  |  Moshe 14/02/08
      35.   Dror Shalom_Don`t Be Quick To Condemn! 17:04  |  Eli 14/02/08
      36.   #15 Absolute Swede 17:04  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/02/08
      37.   #19 Stan 17:07  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/02/08
      38.   here`s what I found 17:09  |  Harry 14/02/08
      39.   Eli of Berkeley 17:10  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/02/08
      40.   This guy doesn`t have a clue 17:10  |  Mark Lincoln 14/02/08
      41.   response to #22  17:11  |  tps 14/02/08
      42.   Israel should use it 17:11  |  Brod 14/02/08
      43.   Not so fast my friend 17:12  |  Lee Corso 14/02/08
      44.   Sderot perimeter is not that big an area 17:13  |  Dror 14/02/08
      45.   20clickidiot-"...Time to take your little yellow tablets..." 17:16  |  there is always hope 14/02/08
      46.   Why? 17:17  |  Al 14/02/08
      47.   What is this? 17:18  |  Dror 14/02/08
      48.   Not an option - could cause more injuries than qassams 17:19  |  Free Gilad Shalit 14/02/08
      49.   Read #19 17:19  |  Gili 14/02/08
      50.   Yes its called a sense of reality. Dolt! 17:19  |  Al 14/02/08
      51.   TO PHIL #1 17:22  |  Steve Beikirch 14/02/08
      52.   # 18 gabriel 17:25  |  Axel 14/02/08
      53.   Israeli corporate government as bad as america`s corporate govt. 17:27  |  Dror 14/02/08
      54.   # 22 leib heller 17:29  |  Axel 14/02/08
      55.   Don`t expect a running buffalo to hit a bee! 17:34  |  The Archives 14/02/08
      56.   Better Would Be THEL 17:40  |  Jeff Northridge 14/02/08
      57.   crystal clear 17:43  |  Space 14/02/08
      58.   Gabriel 17:51  |  ODP1 14/02/08
      59.   No game this... 17:54  |  Esther 14/02/08
      60.   Phalanx 18:02  |  Ron 14/02/08
      61.   Enough of "Phalanx" silliness! System is useless against kassams 18:05  |  Dr. L. Brnd 14/02/08
      62.   # 26 18:13  |  Axel 14/02/08
      63.   28 Jeff you forgot to mention that... 18:15  |  bat yam 14/02/08
      64.   O Yes Haaretz the PHALANX 18:31  |  Gil 14/02/08
      65.   IDF is arrogant 18:33  |  David 14/02/08
      66.   anti-rocket ability? 18:37  |  H.H.M 14/02/08
      67.   Anti-Rocket System 18:37  |  P. J. Casey 14/02/08
      68.   Sderot residents will not be guinea-pigs in testing such flawed d 18:42  |  Free Gilad Shalit 14/02/08
      69.   Chris Linthwaite and idiotic claims 18:52  |  Free Gilad Shalit 14/02/08
      70.   The limitations of point defense systems 19:16  |  Voice of Reason 14/02/08
      71.   Space you belong in Lebanon with your conspiracy theory 19:18  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 14/02/08
      72.   For Gil who loves MTHEL # 33 19:29  |  Clickfool 14/02/08
      73.   So? why not the MTHEL? 19:35  |  Dror 14/02/08
      74.   #39 - Space 19:37  |  MichaelF 14/02/08
      75.   #51 Free Gilad Shalit 19:46  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/02/08
      76.   # 38 jeff 19:48  |  Axel 14/02/08
      77.   #44 Dr L Brnd 19:50  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/02/08
      78.   #51 Free Gilad Shalit 19:53  |  Paul Wood 14/02/08
      79.   Anti Qassam System 20:04  |  Joel tTalmor 14/02/08
      80.   #20 CLICKNEBECH YOU`RE WRONG AGAIN 20:18  |  Ian 14/02/08
      81.   IDF should provide reasons not to deploy Phalanx 20:28  |  B (The other one) 14/02/08
      82.   TO Chris Linthwaite #77 (#44 Dr L Brnd) 20:30  |  Steve Beikirch 14/02/08
      83.   Clickfool MTHEL 20:34  |  Gil 14/02/08
      84.   Clickfool MTHEL 20:35  |  Gil 14/02/08
      85.   Prblem is that Rafael has monopoly over home land 20:41  |  IL supporter 14/02/08
      86.   Petra #4 - Different Understanding 20:45  |  DoubleClick 14/02/08
      87.   DROR why not 20:52  |  Gil 14/02/08
      88.   Phalanx System 20:53  |  Scott Havsy 14/02/08
      89.   Margie (re:space) 21:00  |  Guido 14/02/08
      90.   23 Stan - Not False Hope 21:07  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/02/08
      91.   The questions that surround Northrop-Grumman`s MTHEL 21:12  |  Clickfool 14/02/08
      92.   40 Mark Lincoln - Just Sderot, NOT Western Negev 21:14  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/02/08
      93.   $1MM to test 21:17  |  Ruven 14/02/08
      94.   Irans double speed of production 21:43  |  Paul 14/02/08
      95.   Clickfool (#90) The Answer is neither 21:46  |  Gil 14/02/08
      96.   28 mary the ballistic expert. Those firecrackers 21:46  |  common sense 14/02/08
      97.   HAHA! 21:46  |  Paul 14/02/08
      98.   Clickfool The Answer is neither 21:46  |  Gil 14/02/08
      99.   For Gil, on the MTHEL system # 98 22:22  |  Clickfool 14/02/08
      100.   SIMPLE EXPLANATION 23:02  |  Chicago Arab 14/02/08
      101.   Dror - you don`t understand 23:02  |  Mark Lincoln 14/02/08
      102.   L. Brnd - this is not the ship based CIWS 23:11  |  Mark Lincoln 14/02/08
      103.   Mark of Lewiston - Iron Dome a better concept 23:21  |  Mark Lincoln 14/02/08
      104.   Vicious is to Build a Fortress while the enemy is within the Fami 23:22  |  Joseph . E 14/02/08
      105.   I quoted the article about "western negev." - MoL 23:25  |  Mark Lincoln 14/02/08
      106.   103 Mark Lincoln - A Bird in the Hand 23:34  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/02/08
      107.   The gov. of Israel gone Ballistic--so they cannot understand the 23:34  |  Sal 14/02/08
      108.   # 102 Mark Lincoln 23:36  |  Axel 14/02/08
      109.   Phalanx 23:38  |  Stan Durkin 14/02/08
      110.   build a huge new prison for Arab terrorists in Sderot. 23:53  |  10k Arab terrorists 14/02/08
      111.   #103 Lincoln - Iron dome has been around for years 23:59  |  * BEN JABO 14/02/08
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      113.   Clickfool (#99) better then nothing 00:04  |  Gil 15/02/08
      114.   #82,102 - any weapon only hitting 10% of kassams is no "defense" 00:10  |  Dr. L. Brnd 15/02/08
      115.   the system is installed in some IDF battleships. 00:21  |  Shneor 15/02/08
      116.   What Arabs think of rocket defence? Do they object? 00:21  |  Rick and TC 15/02/08
      117.   Israel`s hand grenades lying around in Bethlehem. 00:26  |  Maureen Ann 15/02/08
      118.   Ben Jabo. Breaking news... another mass shooting... 00:50  |  Maureen Ann 15/02/08
      119.   Rick and TC (#116) not duplicity at all! 00:57  |  Gil 15/02/08
      120.   #103 Trying to understand your objection, Mark 01:06  |  Johnboy 15/02/08
      121.   Maureen Ann (#117) what do you want from us 01:09  |  Gil 15/02/08
      122.   #117 Maureen Ann - He was 18, should have known better 01:39  |  * BEN JABO 15/02/08
      123.   #114 Dr L Brnd 01:41  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/02/08
      124.   #117-2 Maureen Ann - try and be honest 02:03  |  * BEN JABO 15/02/08
      125.   #Ben Jabo. Read your post... carefully. 02:05  |  Maureen Ann 15/02/08
      126.   sidney 19 has a point 02:28  |  rod 15/02/08
      127.   #125 Maureen Ann 02:29  |  * BEN JABO 15/02/08
      128.   Axel - "effective range" 02:41  |  Mark Lincoln 15/02/08
      129.   Johnboy - my objections 02:52  |  Mark Lincoln 15/02/08
      130.   Chris Linthwaite - nostrums and defenses 02:58  |  Mark Lincoln 15/02/08
      131.   What about Rocket Defense - Rick and TC 03:04  |  Mark Lincoln 15/02/08
      132.   Civil Planes Vital Safety Precaution 04:50  |  The Archives 15/02/08
      133.   #131 That is indeed the rub, Mark Lincon 04:59  |  Johnboy 15/02/08
      134.   #118 Maureen Ann - I heard the news before you did 05:10  |  * BEN JABO 15/02/08
      135.   Johnny Boy - money, politics and reality 05:37  |  Mark Lincoln 15/02/08
      136.   War = Money 05:44  |  Mark Lincoln 15/02/08
      137.   #134 Ben Jabo. "I heard the news before you did." 06:07  |  Maureen Ann 15/02/08
      138.   MTHEL systems not feasible 07:14  |  The Archives 15/02/08
      139.   CAMPS Victory& Falcon have been hit by enemy missiles,mortars etc 07:18  |  PETER SM 15/02/08
      140.   Gazan Hamas not a world class exporter of weaponry 07:22  |  avigdor 15/02/08
      141.   ARE there any published tests of this system available 07:23  |  PETER SM 15/02/08
      142.   Drawback of Phalanx systems 07:26  |  The Archives 15/02/08
      143.   Mayor Moyal, save Sderot by proposing to build a prison for Arab 07:26  |  avigdor 15/02/08
      144.   #135 Mark Lincoln - it ain`t necessarily "all or nothing" 07:52  |  Johnboy 15/02/08
      145.   #135 - Mark - Israel has a resource gap 09:03  |  spyguy 15/02/08
      146.   #136 Mark - US has no Money left! 09:11  |  spyguy 15/02/08
      147.   For Gil on MTHEL again # 112 09:26  |  Clickfool 15/02/08
      148.   thank you dr. farber! for seconding my motion! 09:35  |  eric 15/02/08
      149.   141 Peter SM - Balad Airbase, Iraq 10:11  |  Mark of Lewiston 15/02/08
      150.   The Archives (#138) solvable 13:20  |  Gil 15/02/08
      151.   Clickfool (#147) Have you heard of the word stupidity 13:23  |  Gil 15/02/08
      152.   Clickfool (#147) Have you heard of the word stupidity 15:01  |  Gil 15/02/08
      153.   #117-3 MAUREEN ANN -SHAME ON U 16:14  |  * BEN JABO 15/02/08
      154.   #134 Ben 18:23  |  Chicago Arab 15/02/08
      155.   Whats the opposite? 21:52  |  Paul 15/02/08
      156.   solutions to the "Qussams" 22:29  |  Tommi 15/02/08
      157.   Sderot - 1st try 02:42 HT 02:42  |  BBSNews 16/02/08
      158.   #152 Chicago Arab 05:58  |  * BEN JABO 16/02/08
      159.   Jabo on CCW - 1st try 09:16 HT 09:16  |  BBSNews 16/02/08
      160.   Why it is better to wait for IRON DOME, than using PHALANX. 19:06  |  Becky 16/02/08
      161.   Why it is better to wait for IRON DOME, than using PHALANX. 19:06  |  Becky 16/02/08
      162.   POLITICAL??? 19:18  |  Ben.Amir 16/02/08
      163.   Winograd Committee Report 19:36  |  The Director 16/02/08
      164.   #159 BBS news - Bulletin Board Scavengers 20:52  |  * BEN JABO 16/02/08
      165.   Jabo - 1st try 23:10 HT 23:10  |  BBSNews 16/02/08
      166.   # 161 that`s exactly WHY israel is waiting, becky 06:00  |  eric 17/02/08
      167.   It all sounds like politics, meanwhile missles continue to be sen 08:31  |  Sam 25/03/08
      168.   GO, DEFENSE! 20:01  |  Janet Pinter 05/07/08
      169.   Battleships??? Israel doesn`t have any 40,000 ton "Battlleships"! 06:02  |  Scott 07/07/08
      170.   Weapons system - Just ask the US - NOW 11:34  |  Jack 07/07/08
      171.   DO YOU THINK FOR ONE MINUTE MERT/BARAK ARE GOING TO SURROND 17:14  |  glenna 08/07/08
      172.   If Total war on Gaza, first you have to ... 07:26  |  Berta 27/03/09
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