U.S., Israel sign deal to tackle Iran long-range missiles
Defense Ministry says the Arrow III, which is still in development, could shoot down weapons of mass destruction outside the atmosphere.
By Reuters and Haaretz ServiceIsrael and the United States have signed an agreement to make the Arrow II ballistic shield capable of shooting down missiles at a higher altitude, the Israeli Defense Ministry said on Sunday.
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Arrow type missile being launched in an IDF test site, 2006. |
| Photo by: IDF |
The Arrow III will allow Israel "to deal with the threat of ballistic missiles with long range" and will give it "the ability to shoot down weapons of mass destruction outside the atmosphere", the ministry said in a statement.
Israel, which describes its Arrow system as a defense against Iran, says the upgraded version will cap off its multi-tier air defenses.
The Arrow is jointly produced by state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries and the American firm Boeing Co. and has absorbed close to e1 billion in direct U.S. funds since its 1988 inception.
Israel's defense forces have been planning to eventually operate three anti-missile systems: Iron Dome to tackle rockets with a shorter range of up to 60 kilometers; David's Sling - known also as Magic Wand - which has a range of hundreds of kilometers; while the Arrow 3 is designed to shoot down missiles outside the earth's atmosphere.
All three will be operated by anti-aircraft units of the IAF, which has been working to coordinate the functioning of its layer-cake air defenses.
Last year, the air force said that the Arrow III would take more than four years to complete and that would depend on what resources were made available for the project.
Two weeks ago U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Andrew J. Shapiro said the United States intended to expand its military aid to Israel in the hopes that such aid would allow Israel to reach tough decisions in its peace talks with the Palestinians.
Speaking at the Brookings Saban Center for Middle East Policy in Washington D.C., the assistant secretary spoke of the administration's intention to enhance the annual security aid it provides Israel, saying that in "2010, the administration requested [from Congress] $2.775 billion in security assistance funding specifically for Israel, the largest such request in U.S. history."
Specifically mentioning the in-development Arrow missile defense system, Shapiro had said that "given the threat Israel faces from short- and medium-range missiles, Israeli air and missile defense systems are an area of particular focus, including the Arrow Weapon System to counter long-range ballistic missile threats and David’s Sling to defend against short-range ballistic missiles."
"For our part, we are working with Israel to upgrade its Patriot Air and Missile Defense System, which was first deployed during the Gulf War, and have installed advanced radar systems to provide Israel early warning of incoming missiles," Shapiro added.
A day before that, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said that the United States would continue to maintain Israel's military advantage as well as protect it in the diplomatic arena, adding that the American commitment to Israel's security was "not negotiable."
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It should be recorded in Guiness record book
When is China going to stop funding the USrael war machine?
Today it was exposed (thanks to Wikileaks) once and for all that the Americans--like their Israeli welfare state--are committing horrid acts of ethnic violence and war crimes on a weekly basis. The "missile shields", the military aid, the tax breaks--just two partners in crime. In the past the Americans were able to convince the world that they were the good guys, the Arabs' violence against them was unjustified hatred of their "freedom". No more. The internet has changed things and hasbara (American and Israeli alike) isn't catching up quickly enough. Tick tock, tick tock, the days of indiscriminately killing thousands of Muslims while playing the victim care are rapidly coming to a close.
Please israel continue with your careless acts.... your time is coming
Audit your spending, where your money goes! Most you will see it ends up in Jewish hands! Free America from the Zionist pigs, liberation is needed from Israel!
Just so you know, and I speak for millions of Americans, my country's relationship to the state of Israel makes me sick to my stomach.
..... Defence linea are a waste, a few well aimed cheap nukes can solve more than all these expensive missle defence systems.
Israel really is completely paranoid. YOU are the one invading, YOU are the one firing missiles, killing people, stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, constantly threatening neighbours and others, and NOBODY is attacking you or likely to. Why this emphasis on more and more military might, just to support your illegal and cruel occupation?
I thought we Americans got over this crap. Now we have billions of US dollars targeted solely for another country's defense needs. It would be far cheaper if that country got rid of it's nukes and signed the non proliferation treaty. If I were an Iranian, I'd support my government developing nukes. It's only a matter of time before the Settlers in Israel have access to the launch codes. And they say in an Asylum, it's the sane that are crazy.
the best choice for Israel is to hide in the shelters they built under ground
now if the U.S and israel attack iran it has a right to light up tel aviv
When the US assists Israel it is also assisting the Free World. Israel's needs are also the needs of the Free World and the US as countries like Iran and North Korea would dearly like to attack the US if they were assured of success. The US will remain the world's only superpower if it possesses the the most advanced defence and offense technology. Supplying Israel with advanced weapons enables the US to test some of these weapons with Israel. There is much valuable feedback from Israel that is invaluable to the US. It is simply good business.
These are not defensive weapons. They are aggressive weapons, as they allow the user to prevent retalitory strikes when engaged in aggression.
on defense....forever. you will never in peace. Om time, Whats not meant to be will not be.
You are brilliant. Israel will stop defending itself and peace will come! Wow, couldn't come with such a brilliant and pragmatic idea like that.
Everyone is against Israel. Its so pathetic. It has the right to exist and it has the right to protect it self. I dont agree with all of its policies but when the president of Iran has threatened to wipe us off the map, we will take this threat seriously. Would you prefer a pre emtive strike? Of coarse not....No matter what Israel does, there is always someone who can spin it.
since its invention.
Either provide it or quit making these statements! I believe I know what the original statement said and it has been misquoted.
There is no threat. Iran has officially stated and restated it has no plans to attack Israel. The Ahmadinejad quote has long since been disproved. Stop living in the 00s...we're in the 10s ;)
We saw what occurred with Marginot line, the Bar Lev line, the Great Wall of China and other failed defenses in history. We must be proactive in regards to Iran and nip this threat at the bud.
That wouldn't be the same Patriot system which shot down a RAF Tornado coming in to land during the Gulf war would it? Brilliant.
Very good.I read alot about arrow 3 interceptor.The arrow 1 and 2 can easily take down shaab 3,4,5D and sajjil 3 and 2 that iran have.Arrow 3 is amazing technology.Iran have 50-100 missiels that can hit israel right now and israel have more then 1000 intercepter.Also patriot pac-3 and iron dome+Airborne Laser(that can shot down missiels)USA and Israel navys are in the gulf prepareing.Irael feeling the heat hahaha.Love you from USA.
Dont wait till its too late.
Like they're doing in Europe.
The fact is 20% of all oil used in world is consumed by the United States. This gives groups like OPEC far more power than Israel. Given the fact of the 192 member nation 57 are Muslim controlled, the fact is Muslims have far more control in both the UN & US add to thatthe media outlets favor Muslim causes and your statement are wrong and silly.
are both deciding to build these interception missiles, sureley they have got some solid intelligence as to what is really going on in iran. the fact that irans allies such as russia and china who have both got some of the best intel organisations in the world not to mention the mossad and the cia have voted for a fourth round of sanctions agianst iran point to one thing and one thing only.
Americans forget all about the National Debt when the magic word 'Defense' is uttered. The Soviet Union bankrupted itself building weapons it didn't need and maintaining forces which created nothing but a drain on society. The USA is determined to follow the Soviet Union into the toilet of history by waging pointless wars and building useless systems.
Iran is developing stealth rocket-gliders. The primary thrusters will be discarded when the rocket-glider is up to speed, much faster than a cruise missile. The rocket will have no 'heat signature' and close to its target, when it is unstoppable, it can use correction boosters to readjust its course. BOOM ! (Hide your weapons with a smile !)
what a waste of our tax money.
At least this will save lives from terrorists. And don't kid yourself--this technology will help the U.S. too, and its allies the world over from the terror weapons being developed by Iran and Syria, not to mention North Korea.
It seems as if its the US and Israel that are destabilizing the middle east
So they are going to strike Israel? That's an ingenious idea. Analysit, keep you day job.
Launching the missiles are. Anti-Israelis are morons.
That the US is giving Israel $100 million more, according to the AP. It's so bizarre to me how most members of Congress enthusiastically give away our taxdollars like this, but raise hell when a piece of legislation spends taxdollars on actual American citizens.
When you get into the business of trying to make Israel happy by throwing money at them, you must realize that the minute you slack off, they will become even more unhappy then they were to start with. Far better to make Israel happy by whacking them with a stick, and then stopping.
earth to obama: the country is trillions of dollars in debt! if these geniuses want to go kill some iranians for trying to make the same weapons THEY THEMSELVES HAVE, then let them. leave us and our money out of it.
who correctly see the Iranian threat as a world threat. and lets us not forget that this is a joint venture as so many of the Israel-US research arrangements are. both parties benefit and since the US is the most powerful entity on earth, that is some assurance that the rest of the world ic protected
this project will not help the usa in any way. i am so sick of this spin. and "the iranian threat"? give me a break. that was old in the 80s and its old now.
Anti-Israelis are morons.
so that it will destroy Iranian rockets right above Iran and the nuclear warhead will drop back on the shooters.
"US is the most powerful entity on earth, that is some assurance that the rest of the world ic protected... Oh, err, like Iraqi and Afghan people you mean? Or, don't they count?