An Israeli rocket artillery battery in action. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The Israeli Defense Ministry has signed a deal with IMI for the development and acquisition of the “Romach” precision surface-to-surface rocket system.

The “Romach” will improve the IDF’s ability to accurately hit targets from a long distance. It can fire 18 rockets per minute, and is cheaper to operate than other already-existing artillery systems.

This will benefit Israel in any future conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and reduce the Israeli military’s dependency on its air force.

In late 2016, it was reported that Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman was looking to bolster the IDF’s striking power with the purchase of hundreds of new surface-to-surface missiles.

Watch an IDF artillery exercise below:

תרגיל של חטיבת האש ברקטות החדשות שצה”ל רכש • @OrHeller עם הידיעה המלאה >> https://t.co/QCylWdQjHx

(צילום: דובר צה”ל) pic.twitter.com/ZiGh0uNhjD

— חדשות עשר (@news10) August 27, 2018