• Published 02:02 03.12.09
  • Latest update 06:38 03.12.09

IDF draws up doctrine on missile threat protection

In a report last year, state comptroller criticized the lack of an operational plan.

By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: IAF Israel news IDF

The Israel Defense Forces recently finished formulating its operational doctrine on how to deal with the threat of rockets and missiles aimed at Israel's home front, and how to provide protection against these threats.

In a report last year, the state comptroller had criticized the lack of an operational plan.

In a follow-up report released last week on the IDF's failings in this area, the comptroller wrote that, since the end of 2008, Military Intelligence has updated its evaluation of the threat from rockets and missiles at the hands of Hezbollah and the Syrian army.

The Israel Air Force has also reached conclusions as to what is required in order to attack the launch sites and remove these threats.

A few months ago the IDF's Planning Directorate started to put all this information together in a single document, which reflects the IDF's operational doctrine on the matter.

The plan still requires the approval of Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi.

Even though northern Israel has been faced with rocket threats since the 1970s, and for over a decade it has been clear that the major military threat to Israel is the launching of such missiles at the home front, until now no overall doctrine has existed.

The comptroller wrote in his recent report that the IDF and Defense Ministry have since corrected most of the problems detailed in his previous report on the matter.

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  • 3. 0 0
    Doctrine concerning Missile Defens
    • Gary
    • 05.12.09
    • 19:33

    All of these formulations and plans are fine except during a real conflict, the first casualties are the truth and the fact that systems do malfunction occasionally. So once again, the best defense is a great offense-make tough decisions now before hostilities break out and eliminate the Iranian threat. Show the world what you're made out of-don't follow the pacifist Obama team.

  • 2. 0 0
    The Dome and Arrow were free? But they sold it for billions!
    • Ah, mark
    • 03.12.09
    • 09:27

    Okay, Mark, look, more and more mistakes. First, the Dome and Arrow missiles are not people: they are defensive anti-missile systems. Installation ending by 2015. It's very hard to implement, because the said missiles don't drop or aim, they go anywhere they feel like. If you studied advanced physics, you'd know probabilities are infinite. Second, these technologies were not free, as you say. We in collaboration with Americans created them and spent billions that could be spent on poor people or city infrastructure. But if you say the Dome and Arrow are white elephants, then what is not, mister the intelligence services agent at Mossad that knows unheard ultra-secret things?

  • 1. 0 0
    Include 'Shooting the Rockets Down'
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 03.12.09
    • 08:04

    It might cut into somebody's stock profits or investments, but the IDF should consider at least an attempt to shoot down any rockets fired at Israeli cities. That capability has existed for some years now. But the IDF bosses don't seem interested in keeping already shot rockets from doing damage. They would rather wait until NIS billions have been spent on white elephants rather than install free and available, proven technology. How much do the ministers and politicians have invested in the white elephants? Israel already has the defensive technology in stock. The corrupt politicians and stockholders just won't let it be deployed. Why not? Why won't the politicians answer even when asked, previously, by the press? Why does Haaretz accept the stonewalling?