Strategic Weapons: Israel's Flying Anti-Missile System

Archives

January
12, 2007:
Israel has come up with a unique anti-missile system. It's a large
(110 foot wingspan) UAV equipped with a radar and missiles. Flying at very high
altitude, the radar can spot ballistic missiles being launched by, say, Syria,
or Hizbollah in Lebanon, and fire a missile that would destroy the ballistic
missile as it was still climbing. Ballistic missiles are most vulnerable right
after launch, when they require several minutes to reach a very high altitude,
after which the warhead turns towards the earth, and returns at very high speed
(10,000 kilometers an hour, or faster). The Eitan system is still undergoing
development and testing. But, in theory, there's no reason why it should not
work.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close