U.S. spy planes delay Israel missile test
U.S. magazine reports Israel delayed missile test after American spy planes refused to evacuate test area; U.S. Embassy refuses to comment
An Israeli missile test was delayed after U.S. spy planes refused to evacuate the test area, military affairs magazine ‘Defense News’ reports.
Israel conducted a successful test of its Long Range Artillery (LORA) missile on March 3, the fourth in a series of tests to develop a long-range, satellite-guided missile.
But the magazine reports the test was delayed by several days, after U.S. spy planes refused to leave the test area earlier in the week.
According to reports, IDF officials consider the test an overwhelming success.
Fired from Israel’s Mediterranean coast, the LORA - a solid-fueled, long-range rocket weighing 1,230 kilograms, including a 570-kg warhead - hit a sea-based target more than 200 kilometers away.
Excellent Performance
Defense Ministry officials were concerned by a run-in with the American military during test’s initial attempt, scheduled for March 1. That attempt was aborted when a U.S. Navy P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, followed by a U.S. Air Force U-2, entered the test area as ministry officials prepared for countdown.
“It was an excellent performance,” a ministry spokesman said, “but we don’t understand what the Americans were doing in a closed area."
According to the magazine report, Israel closed its airspace and territorial waters for three hours on the morning of March 1. But as top brass from the IDF Ground Forces, Air Force and Navy gathered for the test, the American planes refused to evacuate the area.
So was the U.S. spying on the test? One IDF official suggested the planes were there to collect data, and said the American’s were “curious” to watch the test.
All officials stressed that cooperation with the American military remains high, and that the incident was not worth straining Israel’s joint cooperation with the U.S. Sixth Fleet based in Naples, Italy.
U.S. Embassy, Israel Aircraft Industries and Israel Air Force spokesmen refused to comment.
