Rightardia Middle East wrap-up

The MPR-500 is in the brown and white ordinance in the background

Israel has developed an improved precision, bunker-burrowing weapon which Israeli Military Industries (IMI) unveiled during peak US-Israel friction over a strike against Iran.

The 500-pound MPR-500 is an electro-optical bomb that can penetrate double-reinforced concrete walls or floors.

The US supplied GBU-28 is 5,000 pound bomb and would certainly be more effective than a 500 pounder.


Accrding to Defense update, Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) announced that the Boeing Company has approved IMI’s 500-pound Multi Purpose Rigid (MPR 500) Bomb as compatible with the low cost Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kit.


Israel is also expanding its tanker fleet. The US has offered to supply 4 more Boeing 707 tankers which would give Israel a total of eight tankers.

Apparently four of the US 707 tankers that were provided to Israel in the past are inoperative.

Rightardia is still convinced that an Israeli air raid on Iranian nuclear facilities would be ineffective without extensive US strategic bomber and tanker support. 

We suspect that Obama's refusal to provide this support that could cause a regional middle eastern war is what is angering the Israelis.

Newsmax is suggesting that an Israeli attack on Iran would be joint operation that used missiles, warplanes, drones, and special operations forces. 


Israel would attack Iran with its Jericho missiles and Iran would respond with its Shahab 3 missiles. 


In a related development, UK Prime Minster David Cameron said:


I don't think the Israelis should take that action now. We told them they shouldn't and said we wouldn't support it if they did. We've been very clear. 

sources: 

http://www.debka.com/article/21823/ 

http://defense-update.com/20120212_mpr-500-jdam.html

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-k-s-cameron-no-justification-for-israeli-attack-on-iran-1.419068

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Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News: U.S. has military plan should Iran conflict erupt, says air force chief

US Massive Ordnance Penetrator

"U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz said Wednesday that Washington has prepared military options to strike Iran's nuclear sites should conflict erupt, Bloomberg reported.

Just four days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington, Schwartz told reporters that military options are being prepared in the event of a conflict."

As Rightardia predicted, Israel would require US bomber and tanker support to launch a successful military attack against Iranian nuclear facilities. This report indicates that detailed combined planning has been occurring between US and Israel for military operations.

This report also suggests US Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), was upgraded so it can penetrate nuclear fortifications in Iran.

The laser guided 20-foot long MOP carries more than 5,300 pounds of explosive. It is designed to penetrate up to 200 feet underground, according to a WSJ article. .

The B-2 bomber can carry two MOP 15,000 pound bombs. The Israel F-15I Strike Eagles most formidable bunker buster is the GBU-28. The F15I  can carry two of these 5,000 pound bomb.

The Us announcement could spur the Russians to deploy the S-300 air defense system to Iran. This system is considered superior by many analysts to the US Patriot missile system.

see the complete article: U.S. has military plan should Iran conflict erupt, says air force chief - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

source: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/mopping-up-the-usas-30000-pound-bomb-03172/

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Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News: Israel could strike Iran's nuclear facilities, but it won't be easy

Israeli F-15I

This is the Haaretz take on the New York times article that indicates an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities would be difficult. The Israeli version of the F-15E fighter-bomber is the F-15I. Israel has 25 of these jets that are capable of delivering the 5,000 lb. GBU-28.

The Guided Bomb Unit 28 (GBU-28) is a 5000-pound (2268 kg) laser-guided "bunker busting" bomb nicknamed "Deep Throat."

The Israeli Air Force could launch missiles to attack Iran, but Iran would certainly retaliate with its own missiles. The  Harretz article suggests that an Israeli attack would go on for hours. A lengthy attack would increase Israeli fatalities and also lose the element of surprise. 

The big Israeli delimiters are shortfalls in fighter-bombers and a limited aerail refuleing capability. 

Israel has many fighter aircraft, but the not the right mix of fighter bombers and refuelers that could ensure a successful outcome. 

The attack would undoubtedly kick of another regional middle eastern war that Israel started. 

Haaretz also stated 

. . .(T)he consensus is that while it would certainly would be a complex and difficult operation, it is well within the IAF's capabilities.

"The New York Times quotes military experts who claim that Israel will have to use at least a hundred warplanes in an Iranian operation, this probably a conservative estimate as in addition the main nuclear-enrichment installations, Israel will most likely seek also to take out research centers and long-range missile bases and factories. In addition, there will have to be strikes on anti-aircraft missile batteries and radar sites.

But this is exactly the mission the IAF has been equipping for over the last fifteen years. Between 1996 and 2009, Israel purchased, largely with U.S. Foreign Military financing, 125 advanced F-15s and F-16s, specially modified for carrying out long-range strategic attacks. In addition to these five front-line squadrons, the IAF fields another nine squadrons of older-model F-16s and F-15s. In all, Israel has around 350 fighter jets, a larger aerial combat force than countries of the likes of Britain and Germany."

source: Israel could strike Iran's nuclear facilities, but it won't be easy - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

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