Although Rafael is the premier developer of such products, we must wonder out loud what is wrong with the system if Peretz chose it?

If the other one was more expensive, but it was going to be ready sooner than 3 years. I would have chosen that one. We are talking about lives here not about economics! and this is coming from a guy who is an economist, sometimes you have to make decisions after considering more things than just some cold numbers.

That would have given more protection. However using an interception rocket of $35-50,000 to shoot down a kassam of maybe $100 or a $1,000 katyusha is not cost effective.They can fire hundreds of kassams and bankrupt us.We should deduct the cost from the money the govt gives the terrorist palis. It is cheaper to fire a dozen artillery shells and hit their civilian population for every kassam.

I assume that it will be more cost effective against Iranian long-range missiles. Can the cost of an interception rocket be brought down so that it is roughly the same as the cost of a Qassam? I doubt it.

happenned to the THOR, Laser system that hundreds of millions were invested into. The corrupt government canned it several years ago as they were short of funds needed to bribe other parties and stay in power. In three from now intercepting small rockets might be obsolete. Especially if Iran has developed Nuclear missle and the PA courtesy of Syria/Iran by way of Russia and China markets gets hold of more complicated arms as we have seen with Hizboullah. You can't just go with one system and wait for three years! This Gabi Ashkanazi has to act like a Sephardi. Go to the USA and demand they fund not one, not two but at least three projects (one rafael + elta, second is join US/Rafael and third is US development defence). One of them would have been ready in a year or so. Plus the US needs the same systems for their army defence and where else is a better testing ground then Israel. If US goverenment + private sector refuses. The Gabi Ashkanzi acting even more Sephadi needs to hop on his bike and start visitng all the rich uncles all over the world for ISRAELI DEFENCE PROJECT. Sheesh I don't even have much money but if he came and spoke to our town I would come and listen and throw in a few hundred on my Credit card for the effort. They can take a bank loan and pay it in installments. The end comment is..THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. You can't expect Sderot, Ashkelon and now cities in proximity to the west bank to just sit tight for 3 years...Start coming up with something else. No olmert NOT THE CEASE-FIRE PEACE PLAN.....DUMBASS

A land-based defense system capable of intercepting Katyushas, Qassams. and mortar shells has already been developed and successfully tested in Iraq. The system is called the Phalanx CIWS. It is cheap to operate because it is based on a tried-and-true 20mm Gatling machine gun.

Phalanx costs approximately $10K per intercept, that is true, but you will need MANY more of such systems as it is strictly POINT DEFENSE, not AREA. And Isreal needs AREA. That being said, directed energy, not Kinetic Energy, is the only real option for such systems, especially given the pattern of attacks of your opponent. Thats still going to cost you several Billion $ in R & D, but you need to do what you need to do. In either case, once estblished Isreal faces the same problem as the US with an "Anti-Missile Defence", a skewed foreign policy that believes itself safe from attack. And therefore unwilling to negotiate. If a all possible try peace. It's cheaper...

Syria has tested a 700 km Scud missile, and Israel's radar detected the launch. Israel has been probing Hezbullah's breaching into the RAFAEL's latest technology. The iron dome is only a partial solution For short range rockets, After they are launched ! So, what is the solution; turn a blind eye or start talk, good talk, negotiating peace!

The Laser is the best choice, Israels weather is mainly good and you only have to protect Sderot and Ashqelon at the moment. Deployment is only a year. Development on other systems can happen in parallel

35K $ to intercept a 0.5K $ kassam is very stupid. The laser MTHEL of skyguard does already the job at a cost of ONE K $ with a 100 % success. Amir Peretz is just milking the state coffers , and still he leaves the home front unprotected for another 3 years.What a pity !