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The Iron Dome short-range interceptor. (Channel 10) Last update - 11:42 24/03/2008 Defense officials view laser as future of anti-missile technology By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: laser, defense industry  For the past two years, the defense industry has been working on an order commissioned by the Ministry of Defense to develop a system that can intercept rockets, the kind that Gazan militants for years or Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon War have showered on Israel. The industry is endeavoring to produce an operational system based on a so-called solid laser beam, produced by electrical current, as opposed to the chemically-based laser beam, currently in use by the U.S. Nautilus interceptor system. Technology using solid lasers has not been developed, which is why Rafael is lowering expectations by saying its system will not be available for at least eight years. Advertisement In theory, using such technology would allow the system to lock on to a rocket as it is fired at Israel and send a beam traveling at the speed of light that will cause the warhead to heat up and explode within two seconds. Meanwhile, the security establishment has tested the Nautilus system a number of times in its operative version, and a smaller version, the Sky Guard, finding it to be inadequate for its needs. Intense pressure by arms giant Northrop Grumman caused Defense Minister Director-General Pinchas Buchris to fly to New Mexico to reexamine the system. Upon his return last weekend, the official said the system he was shown cannot shoot down Qassam rockets. Northrop Grumman sources claim, however, that he was not shown the system in action and that such a display will be given only if it receives an official request from Israel. Meanwhile, Rafael is continuing to develop its Iron Dome system aimed at shooting down rockets from close range. Yet another system called the Magic Wand is being developed in cooperation with a U.S. firm. It is aimed at intercepting medium-range rockets by using existing Stunner missiles. Such systems will complement the Arrow system that intercepts long-range ballistic missiles. Still in the pipeline is an upgrade to the Arrow missile, the Arrow Mark-3, which will allow Israel to shoot down missiles from further away and at greater heights in a bid to provide Israel with a defense against missiles with a nuclear warhead. The defense establishment says that despite such developments, the future lay in laser beams. Should such a system be functional, it would be a keystone in Israel's missile defenses. Once available, the Iron Dome will be costly; it will use expensive Tamir missiles that cost tens of thousands of dollars per unit to intercept cheap Qassam rockets assembled in garages. Using laser beams, however, would be exponentially cheaper. However, such a system is still a long way off. "No such system currently exists anywhere in the world," an official said. "Therefore, development is expected to continue and we have a lot of work ahead of us. The ministry has submitted its requests and we are trying to respond to them." Doctor Oded Amichai, a world-renowned expert on laser beams and an associate of Northrop Grumman that is developing the Nautilus, says its Sky Guard system will use a chemical-produced laser that will be able to be refitted for the solid lasers when they are developed. He argues that Nautilus systems should be purchased without delay. A source in the security forces said yesterday that the laser beam-based systems will, in any case, be complementary to the missile-based interceptors. "Neither the missile interceptors nor the lasers will provide 100-percent coverage, which is why they will have to both be in use," the source said." Related articles: Barak rethinking 'Iron Dome' defense system in face of Gaza rockets Ballistic expert: Israel ignoring option of U.S. anti-rocket system Barak: System for shooting down short-range rockets to be ready by 2010 Bookmark to del.icio.us   Best served cold Safed chief rabbi calls on state to exact 'revenge' against Arabs. The Jewish hurdle Obama: I disagree with aide who blamed 'NY, Miami' for failed peace talks.   1.   iron dome isnt ready its to expnsive to operate & wont do the job 02:06  |  zionist forever 24/03/08   2.   Laser is future of anti-missile technology, despite doubts 02:58  |  Foton 24/03/08   3.   About time Yuval 03:26  |  Mark Lincoln 24/03/08   4.   Lost in translation 04:00  |  michhell 24/03/08   5.   costs, costs, costs... 04:07  |  Gabriel 24/03/08   6.   Aircraft defense 04:12  |  Paul 24/03/08   7.   HURRAY!!! At last Israel purchased the...... 05:41  |  The Archives 24/03/08   8.   Sorry Paul 05:48  |  Mark Lincoln 24/03/08   9.   Costs, monitary and political 05:52  |  Mark Lincoln 24/03/08   10.   Laser antimissile defense systems. 06:21  |  Physenginear 24/03/08   11.   The best defence is till offence 06:30  |  Dan 24/03/08   12.   Star Wars: The Phantom Weapon 06:50  |  Mark of Lewiston 24/03/08   13.   Waste of time and money 07:34  |  Natallie Durson 24/03/08   14.   Someone is watching too many Star Trek reruns. 07:43  |  Dr. L. Brnd 24/03/08   15.   Lasers are not a problem at this point 09:25  |  Levi 24/03/08   16.   New exciting physical phenomenon 11:02  |  Physicist 24/03/08   17.   #14 Dr. L. Brnd 11:08  |  Engineer 24/03/08   18.   Israel has failed militarily and scientifically,it excells in tal 11:49  |  Absolute Sweden 24/03/08   19.   lasers and mirrors 12:30  |  Ben 24/03/08   20.   Answer to #19: No Optical/Thermal Counter-Measures for Rockets 13:54  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 24/03/08   21.   Missile Defense Future 15:56  |  JB 24/03/08   22.   Too bad 20:01  |  Paul 24/03/08   23.   Israel doesn`t want to stop Qassams 01:09  |  michael mazur 25/03/08   24.   US is testing solid state lasers on transport planes 02:31  |  zionist forever 25/03/08   25.   totally Unrelated 06:03  |  Rob of melbourne 25/03/08   26.   Scriptures 18:29  |  Paul 25/03/08   27.   Iron Dome is not enough 00:44  |  Frank Medioni 26/03/08   28.   BOMB SHELTERS 11:23  |  Mushma Oule 26/03/08   29.   In answer to No 20 19:00  |  Ethan 26/03/08

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