|
Several new systems, recently developed in Israel, reflect a
potential change and could lead to re-allocation of responsibilities
between the Israel Air Force (IAF) and Land Forces. Since the 1950s,
the IAF was exclusively responsible for air supremacy and attack
operations deep inside enemy area. The remaining assets were devoted
to the ground attack and close air support, assisting ground
operations. Since the 1980s, the IAF assumed additional
responsibilities, for strike operations at very long range (attacking
the Iraqi nuclear reactor was one such example). Within this wide
scope of mission tasking, sharing some of the shorter range tactical
operation missions with ground elements could free air assets to focus
more on strategic long-distance missions.
IAI/MLM entry to the long range artillery market is backed by the
extensive know-how gained from other aerospace and defense programs,
where technologies required for such precision attack systems were
matured, including guidance and navigation systems, based on unique
and advanced algorithms, enabling the delivery of a missile to an
accurate impact point.
These characteristics transform artillery capabilities, beyond the
feasibility of current systems. In the past, artillery relied on
unadjusted ballistic trajectory and was considered inaccurate due to
the "statistical error", increasing with the range. The new systems,
which include surface attack missiles, guided rockets, and trajectory
correction systems are demonstrating high accuracy levels at ranges
beyond 100 km. For example, the
LORA rocket, developed by IAI/MLM
has already demonstrated that warheads can be delivered accurately,
within less than 10 meters CEP from a designated target, regardless of
the range. The missile's range and warhead's weight are limited in
order to meet MTCR restrictions and criteria. Other systems, some of which are highlighted in the Israeli
industries' displays at
Eurosatory 2006
are outlined below:
In the modern warfare, land, naval and air arms are
becoming more integrated, as they gear into "joint" operations, each
arm contributing its most suitable and available capabilities in
achieving the required effect. Traditionally, airpower was responsible
for rapid deployment, naval forces, tasked with force projection and
land forces, to fight on the ground, in a specific theater of
operations. Ground forces are usually relying on air support to cover
activities in deep operations, beyond the range of the current
artillery. New systems, including short range missiles, extended range
rockets and ground launched precision attack missiles will extend the
reach and coverage of the division and corps battle, far beyond their
current capabilities. As these extended range weapons mature into
fully operational systems, they will require near-real-time
intelligence and precise targeting, far beyond the level available
today at corps and division level. |
