Maj. Gen. Yitzhak Ben-Israel, director of R&D for the Israel Defense Forces, said the rationale for developing Derby was to obtain a qualitative edge over potential adversaries and have full control of the technology. He noted that once Israel acquired
Amraam from the U.S. it would only be a short time before its neighbors obtain the missile.
Additionally, Israel does not have control over the ECCM modes of the Amraam, Ben-Israel said. The U.S. protects the "secrets" of the missile's source codes "very well." Missiles are like robots, according to Ben-Israel. "If you know how it thinks, you can defeat it with electronic warfare."
"If you have your own missile, that is not a problem," he said. "We control the ECCM and certain modes of the missile. That gives us an advantage." Israel will still acquire Amraam, which Ben-Israel said is a very good missile, with its Foreign Military Sales credits and try to optimize its usage.
Ben-Israel noted that Derby is also lighter than Amraam and more suitable for F-16s. Brig. Gen. Amos Yadlin, deputy commander of the Israel Air Force, pointed out that the U.S. Air Force decided years ago that the F-16 would not have a beyond-visual-range missile until Amraam came. And during this time, Rafael began developing Derby.
Once it became available, the air force did an analysis of cost and capabilities and the need for an independent source of equipment, Yadlin said. The conclusion was that Derby should be on the interceptor fleet. He said it could be employed on the F-15I as well as the F-16.
A purchase of additional F-15Is is still a possibility, Yadlin said, if Boeing's production line stays open, and Israel does not pick up an option for more F-16Is. But, Amos Yaron, defense ministry director general, said, "Although there has not been a final decision," he thinks they will exercise the F-16 option. Israel has until the end of the year to decide whether to exercise an option for up to 60 additional F-16Is from the U.S. under the Peace Marble 5 program. The options are for a guaranteed price, and the funding has to be spent in 2004-05.