IMI develops ground-launched Delilah ALCM

What, no munition named after Samson? 🙂

Date Posted: 08-Jun-2004

JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – JUNE 16, 2004

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Israel develops ground-launched Delilah missile
ALON BEN-DAVID JDW Correspondent
Tel Aviv

Israel Military Industries (IMI) has developed a ground-launched version of its Delilah air-launched cruise missile: Israel’s first acknowledged surface-to-surface cruise missile.

IMI says the Delilah-GL has a range of 250km, but Israeli defence sources told JDW that the range is “well beyond 300km”.

Yossi Aviram, marketing director for IMI, said: “It is an advanced, high subsonic, long-range loitering strike missile for the search, acquisition and precision attack of high- value mobile, fixed and relocatable targets. Its loitering capabilities combined with the electro-optical payload and datalink capacity also enable the use of the Delilah-GL as a reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV].”

Originally developed as an aerial decoy, the Delilah has evolved into a modular air strike weapon deployed with Israel Air Force (IAF) F-16D multirole fighter aircraft and upgraded F-4E-2000 Kurnass attack aircraft since the 1990s. An additional boost engine has been to added to turn Delilah into a surface-launched cruise missile (Delilah-GL) and a sea-launched weapon (Delilah-SL).

IMI will not disclose all the specifications of the Delilah-GL, such as endurance and payload capabilities, but confirms that the Delilah-GL has most of the same features as its airborne predecessor. It can be fitted with interchangeable forward-looking infra-red/colour charge-coupled device or electro-optical seekers for target acquisition and guidance and is capable of identifying targets at ranges of up to 16km. The seekers have a target auto-tracking capability, enabling Delilah-GL to hit moving targets.

Powered by a turbojet engine, the Delilah-GL has a global positioning system/inertial navigation system coupled to an autonomous navigation and guidance system, enabling an adaptive flight profile at high subsonic speed. The engine allows both a direct attack mode and the ability to loiter over a target area or to provide battle-damage assessment.

The missile’s datalink capability allows for man-in-the loop control to confirm the final target. If this target is not confirmed, or if datalink communications are lost, the missile has a default navigation mode to fly around the target and re-engage.

The Delilah has a standard 30kg high-explosive warhead, but can be fitted with a range of payloads. Previously, IMI developed an anti-radar defence suppression variant of the Delilah, dubbed STAR-1, equipped with a passive radar seeker.

In addition to its pre-programmed mission design, upload and real-time updates, the Delilah-GL has all-round storage, field level and pre-launch extensive built-in test. Delilah-GL can be controlled by a single operator in a field workstation receiving real-time visual intelligence.

JDW has learned that a naval helicopter-launched variant of the Delilah, dubbed Light Defender, was recently successfully tested by a US Navy S-70 Seahawk helicopter and is now considered as a replacement for the AGM-119A/B Penguin medium-range anti-ship missile.

Israel has been seeking to obtain land-attack cruise missiles for almost a decade. Reportedly, the US government has twice denied Israeli requests to purchase the Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile and Israel has turned to domestic production.

In addition to converting the Delilah, other reports suggest that Israeli industries are exploring the possibility of converting Rafael’s AGM-142 Popeye III as well as the Gabriel 3 anti-ship weapon into land-attack missiles, both providing a range of up to 300km.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Israel Aircraft Industries is developing a longer-range cruise missile that could be deployed from the Israel Navy’s Dolphin-class submarines.

See ‘US Navy seeks new anti-ship missile’ (JDW 20 February 2002)

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