GlobalSecurity.org In the News

CNN: THE SITUATION ROOM July 19, 2006

Lebanon / Katyushas

(...)

BLITZER: We're monitoring all the latest developments in the Middle East crisis tonight. And we're learning more about some new missile defense systems that Israel may one day be able to use against Hezbollah rockets. CNN's Brian Todd is joining us with our Welcome to the Future report, Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, outside experts and even the Israelis admit they have very little now to counter the primitive, low flying Katyusha rockets fired by Hezbollah. But as you just mentioned, a new technology may soon make its way on to the battlefield.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: Hezbollah's answer to Israel's overwhelming advantage in firepower? The Katyusha rocket. Crude, inaccurate but sometimes effective. Older models with ranges of about a dozen miles can hit villages just across the border. But experts say Hezbollah has also fired rockets able to travel several dozen miles, to the city of Haifa and beyond. And they say Hezbollah may have rockets that can fly up to 100 miles. A potential target, Tel Aviv. Other advantages, the shorter range Katyushas aren't in the air for more than a few seconds. They fly low to the ground and ...

GEN. MOSHE YAALON, FORMER IDF CHIEF OF STAFF: You can position them in order to be ready to be launched very easily. It's a challenge for us to intercept it.

TODD: To hit Katyushas, Israel cannot use its sophisticated Aero II or Patriot defense systems made to blast long-range missiles out of sky. The counter for Katyushas, experts say, is in the future.

JOHN PIKE, GLOBALSECURITY.ORG: I think that the hope is that eventually, the United States and Israel will be able to develop battlefield laser systems that are going to be able to shoot these artillery rockets down.

TODD: Lasers that in recent tests have proven very effective in hitting Katyushas and other short range rockets, even shoulder fired missiles in just seconds. Israel and U.S. army explored a laser program a few years ago, but the army backed out because the units were expensive and immobile. Now lighter, mobile, more efficient laser systems are being developed. They're only drawback ...

PIKE: The big challenge for these lasers is that the lower atmosphere is dirty. It's cloudy, foggy, dusty. The laser beam winds up heating up the dust rather than destroying the missile.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: Another type of technology we will likely see, a modern version of the gattling gun, very effective at hitting short range rockets and mortar shells, Wolf.

BLITZER: Brian thank you very much. Brian Todd with our Welcome to the Future report.

(...)