Frenzy and formidable Israeli spice “unleashes” the PA – approval of the “killer” IRIS T / AIM-2000

Two powerful Israeli weapon systems that will significantly increase the operational capabilities of our F-16 fighter jets will be added to the RAF arsenal. which guides high-powered bombs with “surgical” precision. While the two major HAF equipment enhancement programs have already been approved by the Equipment Committee of Parliament, their implementation has, in fact, been delayed since October 2021.

As Newpost reveals, negotiations with the Israelis are at a very advanced stage and now the “green light” has been given for the next and final step before the conclusion of the relevant contracts. After all, strengthening cooperation with Israel is among the priorities of the new Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias. The two programs are expected to be submitted to KYSEA for approval in the near future, and in fact are likely to be the first after the election of a new government. To follow up on the final consultations between the General Authority of Civil Aviation and the manufacturers Elbit and Rafael.

Rampage missiles have been a target for Air Force personnel for years. It is a powerful surface-to-surface missile weapon that is launched from long distances in excess of 150km and hits targets with surgical precision while at the same time being extremely difficult to detect and neutralize by enemy air defenses. The Israeli Stand Off weapon can be easily adapted to Greek F-16s just as the Israeli Air Force did with its fighters and is launched from high altitudes against multiple targets, such as fuel and ammunition depots, command centers and all kinds of military installations or infrastructure.

The Rampage began as an artillery weapon but the Israelis developed it into a “lethal” tool that their fighters could wield. Equipped with a GPS that guides the missile and an additional electronic navigation system to handle interference and countermeasures, the Rampage can carry different warheads depending on the target. This particular missile has been used by the Israeli Air Force on combat missions with excellent results.

The second program expected to go through KYSEA concerns SPICE kits that convert 1,000- and 2,000-pound free-fall bombs into “smart” weapons that can hit moving targets with high precision. They reach their target at a distance of up to 60 km with an accuracy of one to three meters guided by an electro-optical sensor or GPS and can be adopted for all versions of the F-16 that the Air Force has.

However, in addition to the two programs for the acquisition of Israeli weapons systems at KYSEA, the follow-on support program for the IRIS-T/AIM-2000 air-to-air missiles, which the Air Force already has in its arsenal, is expected to be brought up for approval.

This is one of the most advanced weapons HAF has up its sleeve that is a high performance shooter. With a range of up to 25km, infrared imaging seeker guidance (IIR), pinpoint and countermeasures capability (IRCCM/ECCM), 12.7kg warhead, Mach 3 speed, maneuverability up to 60g, “lock in” after launch (LOAL) capability ) and the ability to engage incoming missiles is one of the primary A/V weapons for the upgraded Vipers that make up the backbone of our Air Force’s air fleet.