Space

DATE=1/5/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / MISSILE TEST (L)

NUMBER=2-298040

BYLINE=SONJA PACE

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Israel carried out the most ambitious test of its Arrow missile system on Sunday, successfully launching four missiles nearly simultaneously at a simulated target. V-O-A's Sonja Pace reports from Jerusalem the test is seen as part of Israel's preparations for a possible attack by Iraq in event of a U-S-led war in the Gulf.

TEXT: Four Arrow interceptor missiles were fired from an air force base south of Tel Aviv toward a simulated Scud missile target high above the Mediterranean Sea.

It was the first time Israel fired more than one Arrow missile at the same time.

The attempt was meant to test the missile launcher's ability to send four missiles -- one of them armed with a warhead -- to different targets.

Security sources say they are convinced the Arrow can intercept any Iraqi missile, including Scuds. American defense officials were reported present at the test launch.

During the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq launched dozens of Scud missiles with conventional warheads, at Israel. The United States sent U-S manned Patriot missile batteries to Israel to defend against the Scuds. The deployment raised spirits in Israel but was shown after the war to have been largely ineffective in intercepting the Iraqi missiles.

Since the Gulf War, Israel and the United States have invested some two-billion dollars in the Arrow missile system. Even though Iraq has nowhere near the firepower it had during the Gulf War, Israel fears that during a U-S led war on Iraq, Saddam Hussein might try to use biological or chemical warheads on the missiles still in his arsenal and send them towards Israel.

Sunday's test was designed to show Baghdad that such an attempt could be countered by a high-tech system such as the Arrow. (SIGNED)

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