[Jerusalem Post] Yaakov Katz - The Trophy anti-missile defense system, developed by the Rafael Armament Development Authority, will be ready for installation on IDF tanks in "several months" if the Treasury decides to fund the purchase of the system. Rafael's Business Development Manager Didi Benyoash said Thursday, "The war in Lebanon proved that active-protection systems are the only real way today to protect tanks." He added that Rafael was conducting "advanced negotiations" with the Pentagon over the purchase of several models to be used in trials on armored vehicles operating in Iraq. The U.S. Senate has ordered Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to bring in outside experts to assess tank defense systems for the U.S. Army following an NBC investigation into why the army decided to purchase Raytheon's active protection system, which would only be ready in five years, while the Trophy was already operational and ready to be purchased.
2006-09-08 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive