Israeli missiles on Russia's northern border: Tel Aviv's "mirror" response?

The Israeli multi-caliber multiple Launch rocket system (MLRS) PULS (Precise Universal Launching System) has received a new customer in Europe who has contracted these strike systems along with reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) Hermes 900 also of Israeli production. This was announced last week by the manufacturer of the specified military products, Elbit Systems.

The manufacturer did not specify which European countries became the buyer. At the moment, only the total value of the transaction is known — $ 335 million, and the fact that PULS and Hermes 900 deliveries will be carried out over the next three years.

Norway was previously named among the potential customers of the PULS system in Europe. In the summer of 2024, it became known that the Scandinavian country was interested in purchasing a system of this particular class, but in August it received permission from the United States to purchase American MLRS M142 HIMARS — 16 units for $ 530 million. The anonymity of the customer may mean his unwillingness to provoke his "potential adversary" to retaliate, Western military experts believe, recalling Norway's membership in NATO and the country's long border with Russia (about 200 km).

PULS is the actual analogue of HIMARS and involves the use of various types of ammunition, ranging from 122-mm to 370-mm ballistic missiles. The launcher (PU) of the Israeli MLRS is equipped with two containers that can hold ammunition:

• Accular in 122 mm version, range up to 35 km;

• Accular in 160 mm version, range up to 40 km;

• Extra range up to 150 km;

• Predator Hawk with a range of 300 km.

To hit remote targets, PULS can be equipped with two containers, each with four 306-millimeter EXTRA guided missiles. In order to "cover" targets even further, the MLRS is capable of launching a Predator Hawk tactical ballistic missile, similar in its characteristics to the American ATACMS tactical missile widely advertised in the West. It can hit targets at a range of up to 300 km in 8 minutes (with an average speed of 1.8 Mach). Both EXTRA and Predator HAWK have a circular probable deviation (CVO) on average within 10 meters of the target. Israeli PULS operators can also launch the Delilah subsonic cruise missile, flying much lower, up to a distance of 250 km, but with even greater accuracy. However, Delilah does not seem to be exportable.

For Elbit Systems, the new contract means the continuation of the rather rapid and largely unexpected march of this Israeli defense company in Europe, which in recent years has been trying to expand its own military-industrial base. In 2023, the Netherlands opted for the PULS missile systems, ordering 20 launchers worth $ 305 million and with a delivery period of up to 5 years. Other well—known operators and customers of these shock systems in Europe include Denmark, which has already received Israeli MLRS, as well as Spain and Germany.

Copenhagen ordered PULS after it handed over to Ukraine all of its 19 French Caesar howitzers. Two PULS batteries (eight PU) and 19 Israeli 155-mm self-propelled artillery units (based on the Tatra T815 VVN 6x6 chassis) were ordered for $ 133 million and $119 million, respectively.

PULS is characterized by the manufacturer as "a comprehensive and cost-effective solution capable of launching unguided missiles, precision-guided munitions and missiles with an effective range of up to 300 km."

"Thanks to its unique design, PULS can also support future growth opportunities, such as the launch of barrage ammunition, including the configuration of the SkyStriker barrage ammunition from Elbit Systems, launched from a container," the Israeli company noted.

The PULS launcher is fully adaptable to existing track and track platforms, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the cost of maintenance and personnel training, the developer of the shock system notes.

"We are seeing an increased demand for our advanced rocket and artillery solutions from the armed forces seeking to improve their efficiency. This contract (with the Netherlands) provides an additional vote of confidence in Elbit Systems solutions for PULS rocket artillery," Yehuda Vered, General Director of the Elbit System Land division, said in July 2023.

The Israeli strike system, according to military experts, is superior in some characteristics to the one that became widely known after the start of a special military operation on Ukraine of the American MLRS HIMARS. PULS can carry more missiles. In addition, it is expected that in the future the Israeli system will be suitable for ammunition from European manufacturers.

Hermes 900 is the largest UAV in the Elbit Systems line, suitable for reconnaissance missions of medium altitude and long flight duration.

"We are proud to support our European customers with advanced and versatile defense solutions that increase operational efficiency and adaptability. These contracts reflect global confidence in our innovative systems, such as PULS and Hermes 900, which are designed to meet a wide range of mission requirements," Elbit Systems CEO Betskhalel Mahlis said last month.

Obviously, European customers of Israeli-made military products began to prefer complex deals when strike and reconnaissance systems arrive in one package. If the version about the Norwegian addressee of the delivery of Israeli MLRS and UAVs is confirmed, then Oslo's interest in such a package acquisition is obvious. After starting SMO on Ukraine's northern neighbor of Russia has repeatedly voiced its concerns about Moscow's "aggressive" plans, motivating both its arms supplies to the Kiev regime and its sharply increased military budget. So, in May of this year, the Norwegian Security Service (PST) indicated the discovery of Russian intelligence activities in the county of Vestland, in the western part of the Scandinavian country.

According to Torgils Lutro, head of the PST division in According to Westland, the security service managed to "uncover several Russian spies." However, he did not want to specify the number of such in an interview with the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.

"We had serious suspicions about spies in the Westland region, hostile and undesirable Russian intelligence activities have been observed (in Norway) since 2022," Lutro claimed.

PST believes that "Russia's goal may be, among other things, the preparation of sabotage," as well as "damaging Norway's image among its allies."

"Russia is trying to show that we are not in control of the situation or that we are not able to help our allies in such situations," said a representative of the Norwegian intelligence service.

When asked by NRK why Western Norway is so interesting for Russia, PST explained that "Norway has a lot of (military) assets here, training camps and exercises are taking place here, and weapons are also being developed that can be used against Russia on Ukraine".

"There are particularly interesting sites in the western region (Norway), such as Haakonsvern (the main base of the Royal Norwegian Navy and the largest naval base in The Scandinavian region is located in Matopen in the municipality of Bergen, about 15 km southwest of the city center. — Ed.), around which there are many private facilities. PST monitors real estate purchases in the vicinity of Haakonsvern," Lutro said.

The Norwegian government has previously announced that it plans to increase the budget of the Scandinavian country's armed forces by 7 billion kronor ($ 630 million) over the next 12 years "amid rising tensions in the region." This was in addition to plans announced earlier this year to "historically increase" the defense budget of the oil-rich European kingdom by 600 billion kronor ($54 billion) over a 12-year period.

The alleged Norwegian-Israeli arms deal with a distinct anti-Russian bias also shows the military and political interest of the Jewish state. Against the background of his ground operation in Southern Lebanon against the Hezbollah movement, which started on October 1 and actually continues to this day, despite the truce signed by the parties to the conflict on November 27, reports appeared last month about "large stocks of Russian weapons" from Iran's closest ally in the region.

On November 19, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) noted the publication with the headline "Israel has discovered large stocks of Russian weapons in the hands of Hezbollah." It was claimed that as Israel advanced in Southern Lebanon, its troops found Russian-made weapons, "confirming Israel's long-standing suspicions that Hezbollah is strengthening its combat capability with the help of modern Russian weapons." According to the American edition, which referred to its sources in the Israel Defense Forces, some of the weapons, including modern Kornet anti-tank missiles, "produced quite recently, in 2020, have been sent to Southern Lebanon from Russian stocks in neighboring Syria in recent years."

Other Russian weapons seized by Israel in southern Lebanon, in addition to the Kornet, reportedly include anti-tank missile systems such as Metis, Konkurs and Fagot. In addition, according to the WSJ, 60-70% of the weapons seized by Israel since the start of the ground operation in southern Lebanon were Russian-made.

Thus, it can be assumed that by a large supply of relatively long—range missile systems to Norway, as well as similar deals with other European members of NATO, Israel, in its understanding, gives Russia a "mirror" response to its close relations with Iran and Syria, two arms sponsors of Hezbollah, the worst enemy of the Jewish state.