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PM Ehud Olmert visiting Rafael on Tuesday. (GPO)
Last update - 23:14 22/01/2008
Israel unveils plans for missile to counter Hezbollah missiles
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Rafael, Fajr, Hezbollah 

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel's arms development firm, unveiled plans for a new missile system Tuesday designed to intercept mid to long-range rockets and missiles of the kind used by Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon War.

The firm introduced the "Stunner" missile during a visit from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the Prime Minister's Office said.

Jointly developed by Rafael and the U.S. defense contractor Raytheon as a counter to medium-range missiles and rockets, Stunner is likely to become operational in four years. It will be incorporated into the new Magic Wand anti-missile system.
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Because of the advanced technologies involved, the estimated cost of each individual missile is the relatively high sum of several hundred thousand dollars.

A defense source said Tuesday that the missile is meant to serve as the interceptor element of a defensive system called Magic Wand. The system is meant to provide a defense against missiles and rockets whose range is between 40 and 250 kilometers, like Hezbollah's Zilzal and Fajr missiles.

The first layer of this defensive structure will include Iron Dome, which Rafael is developing against Qassam and Katyusha rockets. That system's intercepting missile is dubbed Tamir.

Magic Wand and Iron Dome will complement the Arrow missile defense system, which intercepts long-range missiles and is already operational.

During Tuesday's visit to the Rafael headquarters, Olmert reviewed the development of various systems. Last year, the government approved plans to push forward with upgrading Israel's anti-missile capabilities.

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      1.   Now all we need is a leader capable of wielding this weapon... 21:32  |  bat yam 22/01/08
      2.   How much will they be a pop? 21:33  |  Paul Wood 22/01/08
      3.   well ok now we need a test 21:53  |  tech firm 22/01/08
      4.   missile designed to intercept hezbollah rockets 22:03  |  Bruce 22/01/08
      5.   Paul "Thicvk as two short planks of" Wood 22:13  |  Nik Miller 22/01/08
      6.   # 2 Paul Wood, You are capable to think constructively 22:16  |  Max Zinger P.Chimist 22/01/08
      7.   Paul Wood #2 22:47  |  Bill H. 22/01/08
      8.   gaza missles 22:49  |  adam cohen 22/01/08
      9.   " Meanwhile back in Fiddlersville, Persia" 22:57  |  Stephen. 22/01/08
      10.   HAMAS AND GAZA 00:28  |  Bruce 23/01/08
      11.   P WOOD How much? none of your business!Eurotaxpayers support Pals 01:26  |  PETER SM 23/01/08
      12.   What? No concrete walls? 02:01  |  Jim 23/01/08
      13.   I can explain 02:02  |  pal 23/01/08
      14.   #1 bat yam 02:07  |  Jim 23/01/08
      15.   Bill H 02:23  |  schafe82 23/01/08
      16.   #2 Right on, Paul Wood! 02:32  |  Jim 23/01/08
      17.   PWOOD WORRY about your own safety.Here is British Islamist debate 02:35  |  PETER SM 23/01/08
      18.   Magic Wand? 03:46  |  Mark Lincoln 23/01/08
      19.   #6 Max Zinger P.Chimist 04:01  |  Jim 23/01/08
      20.   Israel needs to develop a `Boomerang` system 04:10  |  Nechama 23/01/08
      21.   in the meantime 04:18  |  sWeis Melbourne 23/01/08
      22.   #8 adam cohen wants an explanation 04:29  |  Jim 23/01/08
      23.   #13 I can explain 04:46  |  Boris 23/01/08
      24.   Paul, Americans Pay Who Care? 05:19  |  Sam 23/01/08
      25.   missiles 05:55  |  P. J. Casey 23/01/08
      26.   #2 Paul Wood, not much chance of Iranian funding drying up 07:12  |  Conroy 23/01/08
      27.   pal-atrocities 07:19  |  Mark T 23/01/08
      28.   if they could, they`ve would long time ago 07:29  |  Mohammad 23/01/08
      29.   FOUR years??? 07:34  |  Webster 23/01/08
      30.   Israel Invents Bycicle To Shoot Kassams 09:01  |  Isaac 23/01/08
      31.   #17 They already have a boomerang system, Nechama 09:10  |  Johnboy 23/01/08
      32.   Do not intercept but.... 09:34  |  Chow Koi 23/01/08
      33.   A Million dollar interceptor for a 1 Dollar Qassam. 20:34  |  archmangle 23/01/08
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