Israel has delivered the first Multi-Mission Radars manufactured by ELTA Systems to the US Army as part of the procurement of two Iron Dome missile-defense batteries.
The MMR was delivered to the US Army by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) in the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense R&D (DDR&D).
In August 2019, the US Army purchased two off-the-shelf batteries from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. They included 12 launchers, two sensors, two battlement management centers and 240 interceptors.
The batteries also contain the MMR radars produced by ELTA, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, and a command and control system developed by mPrest.
The first battery was officially handed to the US Army on September 30. The second battery is expected to be delivered in the near future within the framework of the agreement.
The purchase was made to fill its short-term needs for an Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IPC) until a permanent solution to the problem is put in place to best protect ground maneuvering troops against an increasingly wide range of aerial threats, including short-range projectiles.
“The MMR radar is operational in Israel and other countries,” said Yoav Tourgeman, IAI vice president and CEO of ELTA. “We are proud to supply our most advanced systems to our allies, the US Army. The MMR radar addresses a broad range of needs by locating and tracking incoming rockets and artillery shells and by providing a comprehensive aerial situation assessment. The MMR radar will maintain our allies’ military edge. The demand for mobile, combat-proven MMR systems is on the rise.”
Using advanced 3D Active Electronically Steered Array (AESA) antenna technology, the radars detect and intercept aerial threats while simultaneously calculating the impact point in real time, therefore giving the choice not to intercept them should they be aimed toward open areas or intercept if headed toward civilian centers.
The fully mobile system carries 10 kg. of explosives and can intercept incoming aerial threats from four to 70 km. away. The radars can be used in multiple simultaneous operations and for rapid maneuvering purposes can be transported on a single vehicle.
The MMR has been widely deployed and operationally integrated by partners around the world, ELTA said in a press release.
The Iron Dome, which is designed to shoot down short-range rockets, is an integral component of Israel’s multilayered defense array.
The Arrow (Arrow-2 and Arrow-3) system intercepts ballistic missiles outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. The David’s Sling missile-defense system is designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles and medium- to long-range rockets, as well as cruise missiles fired at ranges between 40 and 300 km.