Israel nears completion of long-range bunker buster missile: reportFebruary 21, 2019 - 10:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A new air-to-surface missile featuring an extended range will limit the exposure of Israeli aircraft to ground threats, according to reports. The new missile, designed by Israeli defense technology firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, is capable of targeting high-value, stationary targets as well as targets which change positions in GPS-denied environments, Sputnik says. Dubbed simply "Rocks", the air-to-surface missile can be armed with a penetration warhead or blast explosive warhead depending on whether targets are beneath the surface or above ground. "We have completed full-scale development and testing — including airborne and homing — but we have not yet completed the qualification of the missile," Gideon Weiss, deputy general manager for business, development and marketing at Rafael's Air & C4ISR division, told IHS Jane's on Wednesday. Putting the weapon through qualification testing "will be the final part of the development process, which will be completed according to our customer requirements," Weiss told the defense publication. Details about the customers who will fire Rocks have not been unveiled, and the weapon's weight also remains undisclosed. Weiss noted in comments to IHS Jane's that the weapon has been certified on an Israeli Air Force F-16I aircraft testbed. Earlier this month, an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander vowed that Tehran would "raze Tel Aviv and Haifa" to the ground if the US attacks Iran, Sputnik News reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |