Sources in Washington inform ''Globes'' that the Ministry of Defense Homa project head Aryeh Herzog has asked the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to approve the bolstering of Israel’s Arrow anti-ballistic missile system with terminal high-altitude area (THAAD) interceptor missiles manufactured by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT). The request was made during a low-profile visit by Herzog to Washington several months ago.
The sources stressed that the initiative was designed to diversify and strengthen Israel’s array of anti-ballistic weaponry, which consists at present of the Arrow and Patriot missiles. It does not aim to replace the Arrow missile system and does not represent an expression of lack of confidence in it.
An informed source told “Globes” that Herzog’s motive in making the request to the MDA is to add a further layer to Israel’s defense, “from a number of additional angles, while leveraging new opportunities and possibilities.” The Israeli request was made with the knowledge of Ministry of Defense director general Maj. Gen. (Res) Gabi Ashkenazi, and Ministry of Defense director of defense R&D Shmuel Keren, but did not receive official backing from the political leadership. It is not known whether Minister of Defense Amir Perez was briefed about the request.
The sources stressed that Herzog’s request had no repercussions for the Arrow project. The manufacture of the Arrow 2 missiles, a joint Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. - Boeing Corp (NYSE: BA) venture, is continuing as planned, nor have there been any changes to the development of the next-generation Arrow Mark 4 missile and its upgraded radar system, Green Pine Mark 1, whose range will much longer than the 700 kilometer range of the current version, Green Pine.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on January 2, 2007
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