Air Force Commander Major General Amir Eshel said Wednesday that S-300 advanced missile defense system will soon land in the hands of the Syrian army.
Speaking at a convention in Herzliya, Eshel added "there is a clear understanding that such capabilities will produce confidence and aggressive behavior."
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"Aerial superiority is a condition to win and win quickly, and is of great strategic importance. The other side understands that well, which is why Assad, with his low budget, has invested billions into purchasing antiaircraft missiles."
"It's not just our problem. The challenge that is developing in the north did not start yesterday and there isn’t a challenge that has no solution," the air force chief noted, adding that Syria could collapse soon and different forces could get hold of Assad's armory.
"This does not mean we will act, but it means we must be ready with our planes and missile defense systems. No one is going to tell us 'take two weeks to prepare for the war.' We will have to be ready for confrontations in Gaza and Lebanon, including long-range ones. Failure to prepare for this would mean a failure to learn the lessons of the Yom Kippur War."
Eshel asserted that "Today, a war can develop in many ways, including single incidents that will force us to activate the entire air force within hours. In 2013, a war can be won, but there aren’t any triumphant knockouts anymore."
He warned against an "overreliance on technology. Those who think we'll just press 'Enter' and win the war are wrong. There won't be a recipe for the next war. We'll have to learn to deal with failures and surprises." ...
Speaking at a convention in Herzliya, Eshel added "there is a clear understanding that such capabilities will produce confidence and aggressive behavior."
Related stories:
Russia says still committed to Syria arms deal
Putin taught Bibi a lesson
Russian card: S-300 to prevent Syria intervention
"Aerial superiority is a condition to win and win quickly, and is of great strategic importance. The other side understands that well, which is why Assad, with his low budget, has invested billions into purchasing antiaircraft missiles."
"It's not just our problem. The challenge that is developing in the north did not start yesterday and there isn’t a challenge that has no solution," the air force chief noted, adding that Syria could collapse soon and different forces could get hold of Assad's armory.
"This does not mean we will act, but it means we must be ready with our planes and missile defense systems. No one is going to tell us 'take two weeks to prepare for the war.' We will have to be ready for confrontations in Gaza and Lebanon, including long-range ones. Failure to prepare for this would mean a failure to learn the lessons of the Yom Kippur War."
Eshel asserted that "Today, a war can develop in many ways, including single incidents that will force us to activate the entire air force within hours. In 2013, a war can be won, but there aren’t any triumphant knockouts anymore."
He warned against an "overreliance on technology. Those who think we'll just press 'Enter' and win the war are wrong. There won't be a recipe for the next war. We'll have to learn to deal with failures and surprises." ...
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