44 Skyhawks For Sale

The SIBAT department of the Israeli Ministry of Defense is calling defense entities, militaries and countries from around the world and inviting them to acquire the fleet of Skyhawk aircraft which have been in IDF service since the 1960s.
The Skyhawk was the first fighter aircraft that the United States agreed to sell to Israel, and the Israeli Air Force began using the aircraft in 1967. Today, the aircraft are used for combat training and instruction in the framework of the IAF’s  flight course, and the sale comes as part of the preparation for when the IAF receives the new Italian M-346 trainer aircraft.
During the recent operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza, the IAF used the Skyhawk aircraft for casting notices above the Gaza Strip. The Ministry of Defense is interested in selling the 44 Skyhawk aircraft for several
dozen millions of US dollars. The aircraft is expected to be taken out of service in the coming year. If there is no response in the next five years, the aircraft will apparently be transferred for scrapping.

Israel Deploys Rocket Shield to Eilat

The Israel Defense Force has deployed its Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system to the area of the port city of Eilat, which has come under rocket fire in recent days from inside Egypt, army representatives told RIA Novosti.
The basing of the Iron Dome installations is for technical reasons and not due to changing operational circumstances in the Eilat area, which is popular with tourists including large numbers of Russian visitors, an IDF servicewoman said.
"Iron Dome is currently being tested all across Israel and it is in this context that it is being based in Eilat," she said. Local press reports say the Iron Dome batteries are being matched to the topography of the local terrain.

The is the second Iron Dome deployment in Eilat. The first was in July.
Last week, fragments of two rockets were found near Eilat, Israel's most southerly city, which it is estimated were fired from Egypt. No one was injured in the attack, which local press reports attribute to Islamist radicals based in the Sinai peninsula.
Iron Dome has previously been deployed operationally only on the border with the Gaza Strip, where it has been used against Palestinian Kassam and Grad rockets. The Israeli military estimate the system has intercepted hundreds of incoming rockets fired at residential areas. The army currently has four batteries but hopes to deploy another two in the near future.

Source =  RIA Novosti.
Asian Defence News

Israel Is Testing A Cellphone Warning System For Incoming Missile Attacks

Israel is under a pretty consistent threat from rockets launched by Palestinian militants, but as talk of a possible Iranian military strike continue the threat of attack is vastly expanded, and officials are working on ways to minimize potential fatalities.
Xinhua News reports that one strategy Israeli officials have come up with is a text message warning system that began a week long series of tests on Sunday. The system is designed to plot the trajectory of incoming missiles, and unguided rockets and blanket area cell phones with an incoming alert.
The idea is that residents will have enough time to make their way to shelters and help keep the number of potential deaths down.
Israeli authorities currently estimate a retaliatory strike by Iran will incur about 300 fatalities, a number that's unacceptable to many residents. A Facebook campaign called "How Many Is 300, Really?" was launched to publicize the figure and has about 420 "likes" on the social networking site.

From Xinhua:

"Hopefully, this test would show us exactly how well this system operates within Israeli society and might help save unnecessary casualties in case of a looming war," the source said.

"It could help civilians who are not in a dangerous area carry on with their routine and also help save lives of those traveling on the road while an attack takes place," the source added, "If it could save just one person, then we've done our job. Hopefully we will be able to get the system working by next month."

The texts will be sent in English, Russian, Hebrew and Arabic between 8 am and 6 pm during the testing and will say: "The Home Front Command, checking cellular system," followed by a serial number.
The "Personal Message" system has been in development for some time and should be fully operational within a month.
Israel maintains that it will not allow Iran to continue its alleged nuclear program, and rumors continue to swirl that the country may attack Iran as part of its efforts to stop it.

Asian Defence News

IMI's Iron Fist system rams through trials

Israel Ministry Industries says anti-tank missile defense system akin to Trophy likely to become operational by 2013

The Israel Ministry Industries is pursing the full-throttle development of the Iron Fist proactive anti-tank missile defense system. The company sees vast market potential for the system, despite the fact that the IDF has chosen the Rafael-made Trophy defense system (AKA "Windbreaker") for its Merkava tanks.

While Trophy is already operational, the IMI's system is still in its development stages, albeit the advanced ones. The defense establishment originally sought to combine the two systems, but that idea did not prove viable.

Defense sources said that Iron Fist has several capabilities that allow it to intercept a wide range of missiles – even those fired at close range. The sources added that the IMI system is likely to be cheaper than Rafael's as well, but explain that equipping tanks with Trophy could not be delayed and that is has already prevented several tanks from being hit.

The IMI believes Iron Fist will be in demand in global markets. Defense sources said that the system also has add-on features, which enable its installation on tanks sans any unnecessary modifications for the armored vehicle.

The IMI plans to offer the system to foreign militaries, with several demonstrations scheduled for later this year. Simultaneously, the IMI is still trying to introduce the system into operational use by the IDF.

The Israel Ministry Industries said that Iron Fist has already enjoyed several successful trials and is expected to become fully operational during 2013.

Asian Defence News

Israel to Create Control Headquarters for All Aerial Defense and Anti-missile Systems

Israeli Air Defense Formation plans to concentrate all systems within a year, enabling tracking of operation as well as malfunctions of all systems across the country

 The Israeli Air Defense Formation plans to create a national control headquarters that will concentrate all aerial defense and interception systems.

Head of the interception systems department, Lt. Col. Lior Becher said, "The purpose is to enable tracking of all systems and their operation around the clock, ensuring the radars and launching systems are operating well and without any communication malfunctions."

Lt. Col. Becher explained that there are situations when a system malfunctions, but must continue responding to threats. The new headquarters will allow repairing the system as well as continuing operation. "The Iron Dome anti-missile defense system for example, enables us to detect the exact location threatened by the missile, and that is why the information centers will be able to better determine whether an interception is crucial or whether the malfunction can be treated," he said.

The headquarters will receive a situation report that will include outputs of the systems. Lt. Col. Becher added, "Tracking output as well as the numerous defense systems spread throughout the country is difficult manually. Using a control headquarters we will be able to efficiently accomplish this as well as point out malfunctions and repair them."

 Asian Defence News