Joint U.S.-Israel military programs

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (JTA) — Many military programs developed jointly by the United States and Israel, as well as Israeli weapons that the United States has purchased, will be on display in any U.S.-led war against Iraq. Highlights of such programs include: • The Improved Tactical Air Launcher Decoy is an Israeli-made, pilotless decoy that maneuvers like an airplane. It is used to confuse enemy radar and draw fire away from piloted planes. ITALD decoys also were used during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. • Reactive Armor Tiles overlay a tank’s armor with explosives that explode outward when hit by missiles. The explosion destroys and repels the missile, protecting the tank’s main armor and the soldiers inside. Israel used such tiles on its tanks during the 1982 Lebanon War, and didn’t lose any tanks to enemy fire. • The Python-4 is a short-range, air-to-air missile that can be fired in any direction, not just forward. • The Tactical High Energy Laser is a defense system that uses lasers to destroy rockets at close range. The THEL has shot down Katyusha rockets in test runs, but it is still in the research and development stage and isn’t ready for wartime use.