One problem for missile defense is it's cost vs cheap and plentiful rockets

'Affordable missile defense' is goal of Raytheon-Rafael project

WASHINGTON -- Israel and the United States have advanced a tactical missile defense project.

The two governments have awarded two contracts to develop the David's Sling Weapon System for Israel. The contracts, worth more than $100 million, were awarded by Israel's state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to the U.S. company Raytheon.

"Rafael and Raytheon are responding to the worldwide demand for affordable missile defense by codeveloping a next-generation hit-to-kill interceptor," Rafael's missile division general manager David Stemer said on Oct. 26.

David's Sling was designed to intercept missiles and rockets with ranges of up to 280 kilometers. The project, led by Rafael, has been based on the Stunner interceptor, meant to exploit the capabilities of the Python air-to-air missile.

"The Stunner interceptor redefines the performance-cost value equation for terminal missile defense and provides all-weather hit-to-kill performance at a tactical missile price," Stemer said.

Under the latest contracts, Raytheon would design and develop David's Sling. Executives said the first contract was for the co-development of Stunner.

"Stunner offers a near-term and affordable solution to this asymmetric threat," Raytheon vice president Mike Booen said.

David's Sling has been a joint program of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the Israel Missile Defense Organization. Executives said a prototype could be developed as early as 2012.

Raytheon's second contract was meant for the development, production and integrated logistics support of the missile firing unit, the launcher component of David's Sling. Executives said the missile firing unit would provide David's Sling with vertical interceptor launch capability for 360-degree extended air and missile defense.

"Large-caliber rockets and short-range ballistic missile threats are inexpensive, plentiful, easily concealed and largely exempt from international arms control accords," Booen said.

Info on three particular missile defense systems, the THAAD, the Arrow and the SRBMD "David Sling." All three are near-term defense systems consisting of\r\ninterceptors that work in the terminal phase of a ballistic missile's flight. The THAAD, the most capable and with the most range, recently conducted its fifth straight successful intercept test last month in Kauai. The Arrow system is similar to the Patriot system but uses explosive energy instead of kinetic energy to destroy incoming missiles and the David Sling is a shorter range system that uses explosive head technology as well. These three near term systems are directed to enhance the existing missile defense systems of Patriot and Arrow systems deployed in Israel today from Iran, non-state actors such as Hezbollah, and others that choose to use terror or threats of coercion with missiles and rockets.