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Comments:  67
Last update - 11:03 16/10/2008
New IAF system will pinpoint Iranian missile targets in Israel
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Iran, Shihab-3 

The Israel Air Force is developing a computerized system to predict where a missile will land with considerable accuracy, very shortly after it is launched. That would enable the Home Front Command to order people into shelters only in a relatively small area, rather than in broad regions of the country.

Currently the country is divided into 10 large districts for the purpose of missile alerts, and at every missile launch, everyone in the relevant district is ordered into shelters. But when the new system is completed, in an estimated 18 months, the country will instead be divided into about 100 districts.

As an interim step, the army hopes to be able to divide the country into 27 districts by next year.
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The idea behind the system is that if fewer people have to run for shelter every time a missile falls, the country will be better able to endure prolonged missile barrages, as most people will be able to continue with life as usual. In light of the army's assessment that any future war will include sustained missile attacks, bolstering Israelis' ability to live with such attacks was considered essential.

However, the system is designed mainly for use against medium- and long-range missiles, such as the Syrian Scud or the Iranian Shihab.

Until recently, Israel relied on a system that was developed during the 1991 Gulf War, which could predict a missile's landing site only in very general terms. A slightly more sophisticated system was improvised and put into use during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, but later, the IAF decided to develop a whole new system that would enable relatively precise predictions.

According to army sources, the new system will collect data from numerous sources, including both radar and electro-optic sensors. Inter alia, it will make use of the sophisticated American radar currently being installed in the Negev, which is slated to become operational next month. The data will then be analyzed to determine the missile's path and where it is likely to land, both in order to try to intercept it, and to warn those who will be in danger if the interception fails.

Meanwhile, the Home Front Command has also been working to upgrade its siren system, which warns of incoming missiles. It now says that almost 100 percent of the country is within audio range.

Related articles:
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  • Israeli defense sources: Iran missile test not an advanced Shihab-3 as Tehran claims
  • Did Iran doctor an image of its missile test launch?
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      1.   So much faith in unproven technology 04:10  |  spyguy 16/10/08
      2.   One Iranian Missile On Tel Aviv - Goodbye Iran 04:51  |  Bill Foonman 16/10/08
      3.   spyguy: Jewish State will do everything to protect population.... 04:52  |  Vittorio 16/10/08
      4.   #1, the spookguy who understands nothing 06:06  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/10/08
      5.   the important thing is that it don`t do mistakes 06:41  |  antoine 16/10/08
      6.   #2 never underestimate your enemy 06:46  |  difronamia 16/10/08
      7.   #2 Bill, what will happen? the israelis/americans will 06:48  |  deltaleb 16/10/08
      8.   shelters instead of victory 07:29  |  msh 16/10/08
      9.   SPYGUY.Missiles fly out as well as in.This is for defence 07:38  |  PETER SM 16/10/08
      10.   # 2, 3 & 4 What are you going to do? 07:45  |  spyguy 16/10/08
      11.   msh - "victory" is not possible any longer 07:54  |  spyguy 16/10/08
      12.   Information and disinformation 08:19  |  Michael 16/10/08
      13.   difronamia`s "mistakes" 09:02  |  SDHD 16/10/08
      14.   I guess, Tel Aviv will be one of those hundred locations... 09:03  |  S 16/10/08
      15.   What to do when the rocket with the BOMB is on the way 09:08  |  S 16/10/08
      16.   New IAF Systems 09:27  |  Millicent 16/10/08
      17.   "life as usual" 09:30  |  The Equalizer 16/10/08
      18.   spyfool 09:36  |  The Equalizer 16/10/08
      19.   SPYGUY "If Israel starts" your reading is very selective 09:46  |  PETER SM 16/10/08
      20.   Equalizer, A few fast planes does NOT 09:59  |  spyguy 16/10/08
      21.   Why this? 10:02  |  DW 16/10/08
      22.   On pinpointing missile targets. 10:23  |  Stephen. 16/10/08
      23.   So Iron Dome The Arrow 10:26  |  Chris Linthwaite 16/10/08
      24.   #16 dear millicent your gas masks are next to useless 11:05  |  victor hardman 16/10/08
      25.   There is no target, get real 11:20  |  Edith 16/10/08
      26.   Is Iran really that stupid??- 11:28  |  De 16/10/08
      27.   LINTHWAITE.Is the Mullah shield 100% effective? 11:29  |  PETER SM 16/10/08
      28.   #7 deltaleb: When HEZB kill Jews, it is OK with you. In case of 11:39  |  Vittorio 16/10/08
      29.   Decisions for the security of Israel should be taken in ... 12:16  |  Jean Van Daem 16/10/08
      30.   Equalizer - you are fighting the last war 12:19  |  spyguy 16/10/08
      31.   LINTHWAITE Normal people go to shelters no matter what ABM can do 12:24  |  PETER SM 16/10/08
      32.   What for? Israel`s going to surrender anyhow 13:14  |  Absolute Sweden 16/10/08
      33.   Which Iranian Missiles? What Attack? 13:40  |  Reader 16/10/08
      34.   LINTHWAITE Normal people go to shelters no matter what ABM can do 14:00  |  PETER SM 16/10/08
      35.   DON`T WORRY, ANOTHER "DOME" WILL BE READY SOON 14:04  |  indrajaya 16/10/08
      36.   SPYGUY Why don`t you preach to Iran not to attack Israel 14:04  |  PETER SM 16/10/08
      37.   READER Which Iranian missiles? The ones they tested 14:24  |  PETER SM 16/10/08
      38.   New Iranian system will pinpoint IAF pinpointing systems 14:29  |  Aounist 16/10/08
      39.   WHAT A NATION 14:30  |  indrajaya 16/10/08
      40.   And India has developed a new 14:31  |  Persian Hero 16/10/08
      41.   #2 Bill FooLman 15:00  |  Cool B 16/10/08
      42.   Can it pinpoint a missile heading for Al Aqsa? 15:02  |  Me 16/10/08
      43.   And what happens? 15:23  |  H 16/10/08
      44.   #6 Never Underestimate Your Enemy 15:23  |  Bill Foonman 16/10/08
      45.   Iranian and Israeli sense of responsibility 15:45  |  khairi janbek 16/10/08
      46.   #38 16:24  |  trustme 16/10/08
      47.   LOL @ #39 16:32  |  AJ 16/10/08
      48.   #47 AJ 17:00  |  Chris Linthwaite 16/10/08
      49.   No Missile Attacks On Israel Will Succeed 17:02  |  Gary 16/10/08
      50.   #35 Indrajaya 17:45  |  H 16/10/08
      51.   For Cipora # 4 20:40  |  Clickfool 16/10/08
      52.   For Gary, who believes in Divine Intervention # 49 20:59  |  Clickfool 16/10/08
      53.   Iranian Missiles should be a secondary Threat 21:16  |  Amarilys Pons 16/10/08
      54.   Iranian Government Thieves Hide Money Outside of Iran 21:35  |  Amarilys Pons 16/10/08
      55.   VOTE OBAMA 22:04  |  jack 16/10/08
      56.   #52. Clickfool. Good evening from the Alps. 23:09  |  Stephen. 16/10/08
      57.   #52, Clickfool is Foolish I Dare Say ! 01:25  |  Gary 17/10/08
      58.   indrajaya 39 02:21  |  alan 17/10/08
      59.   Oh my... 02:24  |  Webster 17/10/08
      60.   HEY! Indrajaya and Clickfool! 03:04  |  alain 17/10/08
      61.   re 59 forbearance will only go so far 03:52  |  alan the real one 17/10/08
      62.   But Iranian "missiles" need photoshop to launch! 04:29  |  Tehran Joe 17/10/08
      63.   New IAF system will pinpoint Iranian missile targets in Israel 06:45  |  M.Umahdi 17/10/08
      64.   Iranian Leaders Already Sending Children to Europe 08:22  |  Amarilys Pons 17/10/08
      65.   M.Umahdi Karachi Pakistan 11:47  |  The Teacher/Instruct 17/10/08
      66.   Missile defense 14:17  |  Paul T. Mudge 17/10/08
      67.   #61, Missiles from Russia,Iran,et al will be .... 20:31  |  Gary 17/10/08
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