Rafael working on more advanced target missiles.

Rafael working on more advanced target missiles.

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TILDOCS-#11681332-v3-אנקור שחור על מטוס בז 1As the Israeli three tiered rocket / missile defense system is being built the need for more advanced targets grows.

Building the three tiered defense system against rockets and ballistic missiles , required the development of targets that allow the real testing of the defending systems.

And this effort makes Israeli company Rafael a very unique supplier of such targets that make surrogate ballistic missiles.

The most advanced in this line of targets is the “Silver Sparrow” used in the development process of the Arrow-3 interceptor programme. This interceptor is developed to defend Israel against long range ballistic missiles.

The “Silver Sparrow” is the third generation of Rafael’s target missiles. The first was the “Black Sparrow”, followed by the “Blue Sparrow” and now the “Silver Sparrow” allows the performance of intercept tests with the “Arrow -3”.

The “Black Sparrow” was developed in the 90’s as part of the “Arrow-1” programme. It was based on the Rafael’s “Popeye” air-surface missile. This target missile that weighs 1.4 tons is capable of simulating a “Scud-B” ballistic missile.

The “Blue Sparrow” was developed to simulate a more advanced “Scud-D” ballistic missile. It weighs 1.8 tons.

The most advanced ” Silver Sparrow” was developed  after Rafael won a competition against Israel aerospace industries (IAI).This target weighs 3.2 tons and is 8 meters long.

And the interest in the Sparrow family mounts .According to the foriegn  press the French airforce ,  used the “Black Sparrow” in a test of its ASTER 30 surface-air missile.

The u.s missile defence agency (MDA) is also following the development of the Israeli new targets. It will evaluate the use of the “Sparrow” line of air launched targets for future intercept tests of ballistic missiles.

The Israeli company has signed a cooperation agreement with Raytheom for the marketing of its “Sparrow” target missiles to the MDA and other countries.

And as the world begins to grasp that ballistic missiles are the weapons of choice for countries that are not able to form sophisticated airforces , the need for defensive system grows every year. There are solid signs that more and more countries will either purchase systems to defend their population from the long range threat or try to develop it in house.

This promises a growing demand for the existing Rafael “Sparrow” family members and perhaps for some new ones.