Barak seeks to revisit Skyguard, Steel Curtain

With Palestinian organisations intensifying their rocket attacks on Israeli towns around the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has decided to re-examine two proposals for the country's ultra-short-range missile defence (USRMD) requirement.

Barak stated he would not suspend work on Rafael Advanced Systems' 'Iron Dome', which was selected in February to meet the USRMD requirement for a system to counter the threat of rockets with a range of between 4 km and 40 km.

However, Barak has requested a review of two solutions that were previously rejected by the Ministry of Defence (MoD): Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems' Skyguard high-energy laser defensive system, based on a chemical laser generator; and Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI's) 'Steel Curtain', a concept based on a proximity-kill interceptor, designed to counter rockets with ranges of 5 km to 250 km.

The selection of Iron Dome, which followed a two-year process of reviewing 14 different proposals, was highly controversial among Israel's scientific and industry circles. Iron Dome is based on an interceptor, defined as 'kinetic' but equipped with a proximity warhead, which should not exceed the cost of USD35,000. Combined with IAI Elta Systems' EL/M-2084 multimission radar, the system is required to provide all-weather protection against multiple targets directed against an urban area.

Image: Artist's impression of Northrop Grumman's Skyguard system (Northrop Grumman) 206 of 476 words