Israel Reports Successful Test of Missile-Defense System

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

JERUSALEM — Israeli officials announced Wednesday that a joint U.S.-Israeli missile-defense system has successfully passed a new test and is expected to be operational next year — a development that would provide an important tool in protecting the country against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

The Defense Ministry said the David's Sling system had successfully intercepted targets in a series of tests conducted with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, calling it a "major milestone."

"We believe that next year it's going to be operational," Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told journalists at an appearance with visiting U.S. House Speaker John Boehner. With Boehner nodding in agreement, Yaalon said the project was an example of strong U.S.-Israeli relations.

David's Sling is meant to counter medium-range missiles possessed by enemies throughout the region, most notably Hezbollah. The militant group, which battled Israel during a monthlong war in 2006, is believed to possess tens of thousands of rockets and missiles. The system also aims to protect against low-altitude cruise missiles fired from longer distances.

David's Sling is part of what Israel calls a "multi-layer" missile defense system that includes the Arrow, which is being developed to intercept longer-range missiles from Iran, and the Iron Dome rocket-defense system, which is already operational.

The test was announced as world powers were trying to wrap up a nuclear agreement with Iran. Israel has objected to the emerging agreement, saying much of Iran's nuclear infrastructure would remain intact. It also has said Iran's continued development of long-range missiles is a sign of Iran's bad intentions.

Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

David's Sling is being developed by Israeli defense company Rafael with American defense giant Raytheon as sub-contractor. Israel Aerospace Industries' Elta subsidiary and Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems are also involved in the project.

以色列 架起「大衛彈弓」防衛

以色列國防部1日宣布，美國與以色列合作研發的一套中程飛彈防禦系統通過最新測試，由於和前此一系列實測攔截一樣，都達成目標，篤定明年能夠部署，抵擋來自敘利亞的飛毛腿飛彈與黎巴嫩真主黨的威脅。

以色列國防部長亞隆表示，在以色列和美國聯合實施的系列測試裡，「大衛彈弓」（David's Sling）都順利攔截目標，這成就是「一大里程碑」。

由於最近幾次測試都成功，這個系統可望明年開始運作。

美國飛彈防禦署發言人雷納表示，在多次測試裡，大衛彈弓射出的攔截飛彈「震眩者」（Stunner）擊中來襲目標，使人相信以色列未來有能力抵擋日新又新的威脅。

大衛彈弓防禦的對象是整個中東的以色列敵人可能擁有的，射程一百到二百公里的火箭、飛機，以及從較遠距離發射的低空飛行巡弋飛彈。

可能發射這類中程飛彈者包括真主黨；真主黨2006年對以色列作戰竟月，據信擁有數萬枚火箭與飛彈。

大衛彈弓在以色列的名稱是「魔棒」，部署之後，將能填補以色列短程火箭攔截器「鐵盾」 與彈道飛彈攔截器「箭」之間的防禦空隙。

大衛彈弓在2012年11月25日首度測試，擊落一枚摹擬火箭，但2013年11月18日的測試由於感應器失靈而遭挫；但美國與以色列官員表示，其餘所有攔截測試都成功。

大衛彈弓測試成功，可能促使美國國會議員支持以色列增加補助的要求。

以色列官員上月要求美國國會為大衛彈弓及以色列的其他飛彈防禦方案增撥3億1700萬美元（台幣98億2700萬元）；歐巴馬政府在2016會計年度預算裡，已經提請國會提撥1億5800萬元補助那些方案。

以色列並且積極營造大衛彈弓的迫切必要性，1日公布一項軍方評估說，以色列下次與真主黨交戰，真主黨可能每天對以色列發射1500枚火箭，造成以色列大批平民喪生。

原文參照：
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/04/01/world/middleeast/ap-ml-israel-missile-defense.html

2015-04-02．聯合晚報．A6．國際焦點．編譯彭淮棟