UPDATE: Israel selects RAFAEL for short-range missile defense

Mazel tov to TK, Israel-based RAFAEL, which beat out heavyweights such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin to win the contract to install Israel’s new defense system against short range missiles. During the past fifteen years organizations such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah have launched thousands of Katryusha and Qasam rockets into Israel, culminating in the 3,000 Katyusha rockets Hezbollah launched into northern Israel during the July-August 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Acording to reports RAFAEL won in large part because its mobile Iron Cap system relied on established missile-based technology — some competitiors offered more fanciful laser-based and gun-based systems — and therefore could be deployed with greater haste. It probably did not hurt either that RAFAEL is also already involved in installing the Magic Wand missile defense systems intended to guard against longer range missiles such as the Iranian made Zilzal 2 and Fajr 5, also deployed by Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The $500 million Iron Cap relies on a number of interesting technologies, including a new radar developed by Israel Aeronautial Industries (IAI) (which also bid on the entire contract) capable of tracking multiple targets and discriminating between serious and benign threats. Nevertheless, it is not at all certain to get off the ground. According to Israeli experts, a recent military budget increase is being swallowed up to replenish supplies used during the war in Lebanon, and there is little left for such a major program, especially when one considers how likely it is to go over budget.

-read more in this DefenseUpdate report