Warning of Rocket Attacks on Passenger Planes
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Navy Looking for ’Remote Control’ of Flotillas and Gas Fields
Monday, 5 September 2011
Strong intelligence warnings that terrorists may attack Israeli passenger planes with rockets spur the Cabinet to expedite defense systems.
By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
First Publish:Arutz Sheva - 9/5/2011, 5:23 PM
Airplane landing at Ben Gurion
Israel news photo: Flash 90
Strong intelligence warnings that terrorists may attack Israeli passenger planes with shoulder-launched rockets spur the Cabinet to expedite defense systems.
One government official told Voice of Israel radio, ”No more delays can be tolerated," an indication that intelligence officials fear terrorists will not hold off much longer before trying to bring down a passenger plane.
Israel previously has announced it will equip passenger planes with a rocket diversion system, but the program has been stalled because of arguments over who will pay for the protection.
The worry of an air disaster has overcome the concern over funds, according to anonymous sources who spoke with Voice of Israel and were quoted by the Azerbaijan news agency Trend.
Official government and Defense Ministry spokesmen declined to comment on the report.
Military intelligence officials have warned for more than two years that Hamas and allied terrorist organizations have smuggled into Gaza anti-aircraft rockets.
Several routes Israeli air routes reportedly have been altered in order to distance them from Gaza.
A direct hit on a plane by terrorists would cause colossal damage to Israel. Besides the huge number of probable deaths, an attack would boost the standing of terrorists, embarrass Israel and would cost the country billions of dollars in damage to the tourist industry.
Planes to Eilat, because of their proximity to Egypt, probably will be the first to be equipped with the on-board systems.
A 2002 attack on Israelis in Kenya, when two missiles were fires at an Israeli charter plane, raised rang the alarmbells that on-board protection is needed.
Israel’s Elbit company previously has won a tender to supply defense systems.
Israel will use unmanned drones to protect Israel’s newly discovered gas fields and is studying high-tech methods to stop future flotillas.
By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
First Publish: 9/5/2011, 11:35 AM
Protector unmanned boat
Israel news photo: screenshot from Rafael
Israel will use unmanned drones to protect Israel’s newly discovered gas fields and is studying high-tech methods to stop future illegal flotillas.
The Navy wants to be able to stop ships from breaking the country’s counterterrorist maritime blockade on Hamas-controlled Gaza but without a repeat of last year’s clash on the high seas, in which Turkish-based terror activists kidnapped and serious wounded three commandos before the Naval soldiers were able to overtake the Mavi Marmara ship. Nine Turks were killed in the battle.
The Defense Ministry has asked companies to come up with solutions other than using explosives or having to board illegal boats, according to Israel Defense.
Several ideas have been studied and rejected, and others still are being investigated to allow blocking a ship without physically intercepting it.
Remote control already is being introduced to protect oil and gas rigs off Israel’s Mediterranean Coast, Globesreported. The equipment is a prime target for terrorists, particularly Hizbullah, which has claimed the energy fields belong to Lebanon. It has vowed to use all means necessary to protect what it calls Lebanese’s property.
Unmanned naval patrol ”Protector” vehicles are being purchased from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. The Protector boat, the first of its kind in the world, is equipped with a firing system as well as advanced radar systems that can transmit warnings of suspicious objects near the rigs.
"Automatic weapon systems can be installed on the deck of the ship that are activated from a remote location, for example a control station on the coast,” according to Moshe Elazar, director of Rafael’s naval warfare systems.
He added, “A water cannon system can also be installed on the ship to deal with hostile parties that approach the sensitive installation by boat.”
The Air Force’s unmanned drones also will help protect the rigs with advanced identification and detection systems that track unusual behavior.
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