The deal reached between the House and Senate on Tuesday for 2015 Defense Authorization Bill would double funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense program.
The bill would call for spending $350 million in fiscal 2015 to support Iron Dome, which is designed to intercept short range rockets and artillery rounds. The Pentagon had requested $175 million.
Photo: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
The amount was arrived at during negotiations between the House and Senate armed services panels. A full vote on the bill in both chambers could take place soon, with the House scheduled to do so this week and the Senate possibly by next week.
Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is the prime contractor for Iron Dome and is partnered with Raytheon [RTN].
The spending level was released by Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. The bill would mandate that 55 percent of co-production and parts and components originate in the United States.
Since coming into service more than three years ago, Iron Dome is estimated to have intercepted more than 1,000 threats launched from the Gaza Strip by Palestinian militants.
President Barack Obama in August separately signed off on $225 million in fiscal 2014 emergency supplemental spending to support Iron Dome.