TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz has chosen the Rafael anti-missile defense system for development and deployment to counter Katyusha and similar rockets.
Ha'aretz said Peretz selected the Israeli system at the end of a meeting with Defense Ministry officials last week, who had shown him a number of systems they had rated according to cost and rate of development.
The anti-missile system is expected to be ready for deployment in 2009. It is said to be capable of detecting and destroying Katyusha rockets or other smaller rockets and missiles while they are still in the air.
Israel was struck by almost 4,000 rockets fired by Hezbollah last summer. Palestinians have also attacked Israel with Qassam rockets.
