Ukrainian journalist Rostyslav Demchuk had falsely reported that Israel will supply Ukraine’s armed forces with the Gabriel V sea-skimming land-to-sea missile system. The Gabriel V rocket is better known as the Blue Spear.
Rostyslav Demchuk’s fake report had cited a report from an Israeli online portal Ha’aretz saying the Israeli government was inclined to provide weapons systems to Ukraine.
So far, Israel has only contributed helmets and body armor to Ukraine.
Israel’s Ministry of Defense has officially denied Rostyslav Demchuk’s claim stating that it was fake news.
Israel is balancing its diplomatic relations between Russia and Kyiv. In a statement, the Israeli Ministry of Defense said, Israeli aid would be more symbolic and “exclude significant supplies due to aid already provided by the United States and European countries.”
About the Blue Spear
The Gabriel V is a highly effective anti-ship missile system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It can be launched from both land and sea platforms.
The Gabriel V is the latest iteration of the proven Gabriel series of missiles which was designed in the 70s; since then it has seen five versions, with each iteration improving the accuracy and efficacy of the missile system. The Gabriel V weighs 1,250 kg and is 5.5 meters long. It has an operational range of 400 km.
While the rocket which powers the Gabriel V was created in 2020, its uses a warhead that has an active radar-homing seeker, accurate INS-based navigation capabilities, beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) and a robust system that is immune to GPS disruptions. The Gabriel V is equipped with a variety of deception means to achieve its mission and cope with the different battle-field challenges.
