Israel reactivates Machbet anti-aircraft systems to counter drone threats

Israel, responding to the growing threat from Houthi and Hezbollah drones, has decided to reactivate its Machbet anti-aircraft systems, which were retired nearly two decades ago. Here's what they can do.

Israel has decided to bring the Machbet anti-aircraft systems, which were retired in 2006, out of deep storage in response to drone attacks from Hezbollah and Houthi, which occasionally manage to penetrate the Israeli air defense system.

Although easy to shoot down, low-flying drones are challenging targets. Due to the radar horizon, ground-based radars can only detect them within under 25 miles.

The most effective way to detect such targets is to position a radar in the air and use it to coordinate aircraft or ground systems. Another issue is the cost of shooting down these drones. For example, a drone costs a few thousand dollars, while a Tamir system missile costs $40,000-$50,000.

This is not an economical method of combating such threats. A better approach is to use gun systems, where a burst of rounds costs a few thousand dollars at most. Israel had these types of systems in storage and decided to reactivate them to save more expensive anti-missile weapons for tougher targets.

Machbet is an Israeli modernization of the older M163 VADS systems, locally known as Hovet, from the 1990s, based on the M113 armored personnel carrier. It is a point defense system featuring a 20 mm six-barrel Vulcan M61 electric-driven cannon, upgraded with a four-missile short-range FIM-92 Stinger launcher and a communication link enabling the acquisition of targeting data from other radars.

Additionally, Israel added an optoelectronic head with a thermal imaging camera and likely a laser rangefinder to combat low radar signature targets and avoid the threat from anti-radiation missiles.

The range of this system is not impressive, as the Vulcan M61 electric-driven cannon has a maximum range of 2 miles, extending to about 3 miles when firing Stingers. A significant advantage is the low cost, as even dozens or hundreds of 20 mm rounds are negligible (in the USA, they have been sold for less than $30 each) compared to anti-aircraft missiles.

Even considering the Vulcan M61's high rate of fire, at 6,000 rounds per minute, a few-second burst would cost $10,000 or less. Another benefit is that the ammunition used in the M61 Vulcan is the same as that used in the F-16 or F-15 aircraft, simplifying logistics since Israel will have a large supply.

Available ammunition options include the M53 armor-piercing torch, capable of penetrating 0.25 inches of armored steel from a distance of 0.6 miles, the M56A3/A4 high-explosive incendiary with a fragment impact range of approximately 22 yards, and the PGU-28A/B armor-piercing with explosive and incendiary charge, a compromise combining the effects of the above two types of ammunition into one.