HUNTSVILLE – The distance from Alabama to Israel is roughly 7,000 miles as the crow flies, but that separation didn’t keep a Rocket City company’s defense technology company from playing a role in a recent Middle East confrontation.
But deadly and destructive drones and missiles, not crows, were the targets.
In a story published on www.apr.org/news, the Lockheed Martin-managed Aegis anti-missile system played a role in Israel’s defense against a drone/missile attack launched from Iran.
According to Alabama Public Radio’s report, Israel has hailed the success of its success in the face of the unprecedented attack that the U.S. military took part in defending against the more than three hundred drones and ballistic missiles that were launched.
Israel said it destroyed 99% of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran. U.S. Navy destroyers and fighter jets also reportedly played a role. Published reports say the Aegis combat system developed in Alabama was used to defend Israel during the late night attack, aiding in knocking down three ballistic missiles. Boeing manages the Aegis in Huntsville.
“Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Standard Missile-3 is being developed, produced, and deployed as part of the Missile Defense Agency’s Ballistic Missile Defense System,” Boeing said. “SM-3 and the Aegis Weapon System are integrated into the BMDS to provide a sea-based umbrella of protection against short to medium-range ballistic missile threats in the exoatmosphere during the mid-course phase of flight.”
According to APR, Sunday’s assault was the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel, despite decades of enmity dating back to the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Israel’s Iron Dome defense is a multilayered air-defense network that includes systems capable of intercepting a variety of threats including long-range missiles, cruise missiles, drones and short-range rockets.
That system reportedly includes the Aegis combat system developed and built in Huntsville. The general contractor is Lockheed Martin.
