Land-Based SM-3s for Israel - and Others?

Land-Based SM-3s for Israel - and Others?

20-Aug-2009 14:42 EDT

Related Stories: ABM, Americas - USA, Middle East - Israel, Raytheon, Rumours
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LB SM-3 concept
Land-based SM-3 concept
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In July 2008, Aviation Week reported that the US Missile Defense Agency was considering a land-based variant of the SM-3 Standard missile largely due to specific requests from Israel.

Israel currently fields the medium range Arrow-2 land-based ABM system, supplemented by Patriot missiles for point defense. The Arrow has performed well in tests, however, and an order for more was placed as recently as February 2008. What could Israels rationale be?

DID discusses some possible rationales, and also discusses developments. Which includes interest from other countries besides Israel, along with Raytheons stated commitment to design and offer a land-based SM-3

* Israels Possible Rationales
* Updates and Developments

Israels Possible Rationales
ORD_Arrow_Interception_Concept.jpg
Arrow test concept
(click to view full)

Several possibilities exist that would allow Israel to keep its Arrow system as an active program, and still deploy the SM-3s.

One is the naval defense option. While Israel has apparently decided on a different direction, its proposed LCS-I frigates would have possessed the ability to fire SM-3 missiles, and their proposed Meko derivatives might still have it if theyre equipped with Mk41 VLs launchers. Like the LCS-I, they would need to link to an ABM radar for guidance. Israel already fields ABM-capable land radars like its Green Pine system, and the USA has reportedly moved manned AN/TPY-2 THAAD radars into Israel as additional insurance. Linkage of the missiles guidance to those kinds of land platforms, would involve many of the same modifications required by a fully land-launched and controlled SM-3.

Second, the SM-3 boats a range about 5x longer than the Arrow, at 300 miles vs. 50-60 miles. A tripartite system of SM-3, Arrow-2, and Patriot missiles would effectively cover the 3 layered tiers required by a country Israels size: national defense/ first line of defense, defense of key regions/ second shot, and defense of specific sites/ final attempt.

Third, deployment would coincide with a growing shift in the USA to focus on ascent-phase intercept of medium (MRBM) and intermediate-range (IRBM) missiles. If the launchers are deployed close enough to the firing missile, interceptions become possible some time between the boost and mid-course phases during the entry into space, right before the target missile can begin deploying decoys.

Finally, the SM-3 is an active production item for the USA and Japan, which leverages the infrustrature created by a large-scale, full-rate production set of programs. This means that SM-3s can be produced far faster than additional Arrow missiles. If developments in Iran are leading Israel to conclude that it needs to deploy many more theater-range ABM missiles within a short period of time, the THAAD and Arrow-2 programs are unlikely to be able to handle that request due to the stage theyre at, and the industrial framework around them. That leaves the SM-3 as Israels only realistic rapid plus-up option.

Time will tell whether this remains a research program, or becomes an active buy.

Updates and Developments
SM-3 Evolution
SM-3 Evolution:
next step, land?
(click to view full)

August 18/09: In a presentation at the 2009 Space and Missile Defense Conference & Exhibition in Huntsville, AL, Raytheon announces that it is developing a land-based system SM-3 system that would work with THAADs Raytheon-made AN/TPY-2 long range radar, and could be ready as early as 2013.

The presentation states that this solution could provide Israel a near-term solution to counter ballistic missiles from Iran, given the deployment of TPY-2 radars in Israel by the US government. It is also reportedly under consideration for use in Europe as the missile component of planned deployments in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Its no accident that this comes just as Boeing announces a mobile GMD proposal for Europe by 2015, and Lockheed Martin has gone farther by submitting a modified THAAD proposal to the US Missile Defense Agency for consideration in the 2011 budget. Lockheed Martin has already invested privately funded R&D into a 21 wide THAAD variant that would nearly double the Army interceptor missiles range. Current SM-3s are 13.5 in diameter, current THAADs are 14.5, and the proposed SM-3 Block II being developed in partnership with Japan will also be 21 in diameter. It would appear that a competition for the forward-deployed theater defense role may be brewing. Arutz Sheva | Reuters | Aviation Week re: shifts in doctrine | Aviation Week re: THAAD | Jerusalem Post re: Boeings mobile GBI.

April 27/09: Japans Yomiuri Shimbun reports that the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has started studying a new missile defense system capable of launching the Standard Missile-3 from the ground.

Aug 4/09: Colin Clark of DOD Buzz publishes a short video interview with Raytheon VP of advanced missile defense and directed energy Mike Booen. The interview took place at the 2009 Paris Air Show, and the topic is the $50 million FY 2010 US military budget request to study land-based SM-3 deployment.

July 17/08: Aviation Week reports that the US Missile Defense Agency is considering a land-based variant of the SM-3 Standard missile, at Israels request:

SM-3 prime contractor Raytheon is examining a range of optionsincluding a moveable, but not highly mobile, system that could fill Israels needs. Very few modifications would be needed for the missile and some tweaks would be required in the command and control system. The system would employ the same vertical launch modules, in an eight-pack configuration, used in the Aegis ship-based system.

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Land-Based-SM-3s-for-Israel-04986/?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_source=did&utm_medium=textlink




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