The Raz radar system, able to track high-trajectory objects. Photo: IDF Ground Forces website GOC Army Headquarters site

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The IDF’s ability to warn against high-trajectory weapons are expected to improve dramatically during the coming year.  This is thanks to a new radar system, called the Raz, which is expected to be used for operations during 2009.  This radar will be able to detect the firing of mortar shells at Israeli territory.  In light of this new, innovative development, the IDF will be able to provide a warning for all high-trajectory firing used to attack Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip.

The experimental model of the Raz radar system was tested during the last few days of Operation Cast Lead and proved to be highly successful.  Chief Officer of the Artillery Corps, Brig. Gen. David Savisa, has confidence in the Raz radar system and said, "The Raz radar system pinpoints anything that flies aloft in great depth."  According to Brig. Gen. Savisa, during the radar experimentation period, it successfully pinpointed everything that was fired towards Israeli territory.

The Raz operations room:
"The Raz radar system pinpoints anything that flies aloft in great depth"

Today, the Nurit radar system is used by the Artillery Corps and it enables them to locate missiles including the Grad, Qassam and Katyusha missiles that have been fired at Israel.  Mortar shells are currently the most terrifying factor for the residents living in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip – more than any other of the high-trajectory weapons that are fired at Israel – to which the Raz radar system provides hermetic pinpointing.