US Army to buy two Israeli Iron Dome air defence systems
The US Army said on 6 February 2019 that it wants to purchase a pair of Iron Dome short-range air defence systems, an interceptor technology developed by Israel with US support.
US Army spokesperson Colonel Patrick Seiber said the deal would meet a short-term need to protect troops from ‘indirect fire’ such as rockets and mortars. No decisions have been made yet about where the two systems may be deployed.
‘The Iron Dome will be assessed and experimented as a system that is currently available to protect deployed US military service members against a wide variety of indirect fire threats and aerial threats,’ Seiber said in a statement.
Iron Dome systems have been in operation by the Israeli air force since 2011 and have seen frequent use in thwarting rocket attacks from Gaza and elsewhere. Seiber said the US Army will ‘assess a variety of options’ for a system that could be used in the long term.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also serves as defence minister, called the deal further proof of Israel's alliance with the US. ‘Israel has an Iron Dome and an iron fist. Our systems know how to deal with any threat, both in defence and in attack. I would not recommend our enemies to try us,’ he said in a defence ministry statement.
Seiber said the US Army proposes spending $1.6 billion through 2024 to field an ‘enduring capability’ that may include portions of the Iron Dome system.
The Iron Dome system was developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with the help of US funding. It is designed to intercept rockets and artillery shells fired from a range of four to 70km (three to 45 miles). Each battery comprises detection and tracking radar, state-of-the-art fire control software and three launchers, each with 20 interceptor missiles.
More from Defence Notes
-
US lawmakers warn that “more military spending is absolutely necessary” to ensure Pentagon’s readiness
The US Congress has raised concerns about how inflation rates and cuts in main acquisition programmes could affect the US military.
-
US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap
The Pentagon has been operating under temporary funding since October 2023, which has impacted its main acquisition and development programmes, increasing the capability gap between the US and China.
-
NATO outlines future challenges as Ukrainian funding from US stalls
In 2023, defence spending increased by an unprecedented 11% across European NATO countries and Canada. Since 2014, the group has spent an additional US$600 billion on defence.
-
US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025
The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.
-
Haiti crisis forces Caribbean militaries to prepare for intervention
As gangs gain control of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s Caribbean neighbours have been preparing to intervene in the failed state, with the US and other partners waiting in the wings with equipment and financial support.