Israel’s military is readying a new air-defense system that could be used to counter an Iranian missile strike.
The nation’s air force in recent weeks finished initial steps for establishing a unit assigned to manage the Magic Wand air defenses. Program staff have begun engaging with the system’s contracting developers to confirm Magic Wand will meet technical demands in the field, one air force insider said.
The Magic Wand system could target an Iranian Shahab ballistic missile if longer-range missile defenses fail to bring down the weapon, according to the report. The Israeli technology is intended to defend against missiles with ranges between 24 and 150 miles, an earlier report indicated.
In addition, Magic Wand could prove effective against midrange missiles held by the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah and capable of hitting vulnerable regions of Israel. Such weapons might be trained on the Middle Eastern state in the event of a future violent clash, according to defense officials.
The expense of any destruction a missile hit by the Magic Wand system might otherwise produce would exceed the cost of individual interceptors, according to the defense industry. The interceptors can cost as much as $1 million each.
Global Security Newswire
Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance
