ARIE EGOZI / TEL AVIV

The Israeli air force is being forced to consider fitting improved countermeasures to aircraft operating over Lebanon as it is feared that the Hezbollah militia will receive KBMIgla-1 (SA-18 Grouse) man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS). Syria has an order for the infrared (IR) guided weapon and it is feared that it will pass the missiles to Hezbollah.

Israel's prime minster Ariel Sharon raised the issue with Russian president Vladimir Putin during a trip to Moscow last week. Sharon asked for the shipment to be blocked to avoid the missiles' being transferred to Hezbollah.

The SA-18 is the latest generation of Russian MANPADS and is a major redesign of the SA-7 Grail, equipped with and improved motor and IR seeker, to provide an improved capability against fast jets.

Hezbollah has been mainly using anti-aircraft guns against Israeli air force aircraft and unmanned air vehicles patrolling the border.

Source: Flight International