Still No Rocket Defence

A small, frightened girl in Sderot and the C-RAM defence system

I just wanted to bring up the topic of Israeli rocket defence again. Although I appreciate that some people may not find it the most stimulating of topics, the residents of Sderot, not to mention those of northern Israel, find it utterly critical.

Indeed, the poor people of Sderot must be wondering why they still don’t have any effective defence against the continuous barrage of projectiles fired at them from Hamastan (Gaza).

Not only is there a working laser system which has been proved to knock out katyushas and mortars, including in salvos (as I have I pointed out here and here) there is now a U.S. system called C-RAM being used by the U.S. and U.K. in Iraq which has a 70%-80% success rate against rockets artillery shells and mortars which I’m sure the people of Sderot would be most grateful for.

Instead, the Israeli Minisry of Defence, under Peretz, decided on an Israeli made system which will cost a ridiculous $100,000 to intercept every projectile. This is clearly unfeasible and is thus an utterly stupid system to employ, yet development still goes ahead.

With short-range rocket rockets being one of the most significant strategic threats to Israel, as witnessed by the panic, destruction, mass internal displacement and economic losses they caused in last summer’s war with Hizballah, it is criminal that the Israeli government is not procuring either the C-RAM system or one of the others which are currently available for this vital defence task. The poor planning with regard this matter once again underlines the ineptitude of the current government and its continued failure to learn and apply the military lessons of the past war.