Efforts are being made to revive the idea of boost phase intercept as another layer Israel should use against the threat of long-range ballistic missiles.
Like in the defense against rockets, there are two groups – one that says that rocket interceptors are the answer and a second one that has been advocating the laser as a rocket killer.
When it seemed that the laser option has been buried forever, in recent months it has been put again on the table, with efforts to overcome the technical hurdles.
The same process happens now with relation to the boost phase intercept (BPI). In July 2018, American Lawmakers voted to require the Defense Department to begin developing a space-based ballistic missile defense interceptor layer regardless of whether a forthcoming review of missile defense policy recommends such an action and despite long-standing concerns about the financial costs and strategic risks of space-based defenses.
This move has encouraged the Israeli supports of BPI to try and revive the effort. In 1993 Israel began the planning of a concept that will use a long endurance UAS armed with modified air-air missiles, to hit ballistic missiles seconds after launch.
The Israeli Boost Intercept System was dubbed (IBIS), and the missile was called the Missile Optimized Anti-Ballistic (MOAB).
According to foreign sources, the UAS design was completed by IAI and was dubbed HA-10, and was designed to cruise at altitudes of up to 9.5 miles.
The same reports talked about equipping the UAS with an advanced IR sensor, to locate the heat generated by the ballistic missile’s engine in the first seconds after ignition.
The reports at that time also said that the UAS is planned to have a 24 hours endurance and a carrying capability of 2200 pounds.
After Israel abandoned the BPI concept , it began developing its Arrow ballistic missiles interceptors.
Recently, as happened with the proposed laser weapon against rockets, the idea is back in the air.
It is easy to understate the “sex appeal” of boost phase intercept. The heat of the launch is easy to detect and the missile’s payload can be positively destroyed and even inflict damage to the enemy.
In a document prepared by the arms control association in 2000, boost phase intercept is compared to the weather “everybody talks about it but nobody does anything about it”.
According to the advocates of BPI, it has many advantages over midcourse intercept. They say that while in midcourse the interceptor has to hit a small, relatively cool warhead that is traveling quickly, when using BPI, the target is large, hot and climbing slowly. It also they say solves the problem of dealing with multiple warheads.
As expected, people in Israel that have been involved in developing the current multi layered defense systems against ballistic missiles are against BPI.
Uzi Rubin, former head of the Israel missile defense directorate in the ministry of defense, that BPI Is simply nonsense “in order to use BPI you have to be close to the site from where the missiles are launched and at the right time. This is portrayed as a magic solution, but it won’t work”.
Arie Hertzog, another former head of this directorate, also said that the BPI is something that is not applicable to the potential ballistic missiles on Israel.
As expected, the advocates of a laser weapon that will “burn” rockets, are also enthusiastic advocates of BPI. Brig. General (ret.) Zvi Shur, a member of the “Home Front Shield” nonprofit organization, who is trying to promote the laser solution, said that the BPI can be the best solution for the growing threat. “We think that two converted passenger aircraft, equipped with powerful lasers can function as the first line of protection when intelligence points to possible ballistic missiles launch. A fleet of five such aircraft, carrying lasers will enable two to be in the air near the launch sites. This of course if there is intelligence reports that missiles are being prepared for launch”
It seems now that the BPI is far, very far from becoming an actual program. But one thing is sure – Israel is looking for more defense layers against the Iranian ballistic missiles threat. In such situation, ideas that seem to many as unrealistic, may become very realistic, by using building blocks Israel has.
By Arie Egozi
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