Zionists eyeing US Patriot missiles

The Israeli air force is said to be deliberating whether to buy an improved model of the American-made Patriot missile defense system.

Lockheed Martin Corporation offered the system, known as the PAC-3, to the Zionist regime for the relatively low price of under $50 million, army industry sources said.

The Zionist regime's missile systems consist of the Arrow, which is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles, and the PAC-2, also known as the Patriot, which is used as a second level of defense if the Arrow fails.

The PAC-3 is one of the only operational missile defense systems deployed around the world. The US Army received its 500th missile from Lockheed Martin on Sunday.

The PAC-3 is an improved version of the PAC-2 in terms of coverage and lethality. It has an interceptor missile that uses a hit-to-kill system rather than an exploding warhead used by the PAC-2. The PAC-3 missile is also smaller and its launchers can fire 16 instead of just four like the PAC-2.

The decision to buy the PAC-3 will be made over the coming week. Chief of general staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi will convene his top generals for a week-long workshop to determine the so-called IDF's procurement plan for the coming years.

Meanwhile, Syria began receiving the first shipment of Russian-made anti-aircraft missile and gun-range, land-based Pantsyr-S1 defense systems (SA-22 E in NATO terminology) on Sunday. The missile system has a range of 12 kilometers and threatens Israeli aircraft over the Golan Heights.

The anti-aircraft missiles are part of a $900 million deal that Russia signed with Damascus at the beginning of the year for 50 Pantsyr-S1 batteries and missiles. The procurement of the missiles poses a tactical challenge for the Israeli air force and puts into question its training regimen, which includes flying aircraft during exercises in the Golan Heights.

While the Zionist regime has voiced strong objections to Russian arms deals with Syria and Iran, Moscow has said it will continue supplying Middle Eastern countries with military platforms of a defensive nature.

Source: Jerusalem Post