One of the first partners on missile defense with the United States was Israel, and that cooperation is “robust, enduring, and unshakable,” a U.S. Arms Control official said.
Because of the serious nature of the threat, the United States is working with Israel on a number of missile defense activities, said Frank Rose, deputy assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control Verification and Compliance at the 2nd Annual Israel Multinational Missile Defense Conference in Tel Aviv.
The threat comes from Iran, Syria, Hizballah and Hamas, Rose said.
Iran claims successful testing of solid-fuel 2,000 kilometer medium range ballistic missiles, demonstrating the ability to strike Israel and Southeastern Europe.
“Iran is fielding increased number of mobile regional ballistic missiles, claims to have incorporated anti-missile-defense tactics and capabilities into its ballistic missile forces and has recently unveiled missile silo facilities,” Rose said in prepared remarks.
On July 15, Iran used its Safir space launch vehicle to life a 34-pound Rasad 1 satellite into orbit, the second satellite inserted into orbit in two years. Iran continues to show the intent to develop more powerful rockets and gain experience with technologies that apply to longer range ballistic missiles, he said.
Syria has one of the largest ballistic missile development programs in the region, Rose said, with “hundreds of mobile SCUD-class and short-range ballistic missiles” and continues its search for more advanced equipment and materials from Iran, North Korea and other illicit suppliers.
Hizballah and Hamas are capable of irregular warfare that include, for Hizballah, launching thousands of short-range rockets into Israeli population centers. It continues efforts to expand its reach by acquiring rockets with greater range and accuracy.
The United States and Israel continue to work together in a variety of areas including regular meetings to coordinate on a wide range of issues and Juniper Cobra, a biennial joint exercise conducted by the United States and Israel since 2001. It works on integrating interceptors, radars and other systems.
Arrow Weapons System, the Israel capability to defend against short and medium range ballistic missiles, was jointly developed with the United States. The MLM division of Israel Aerospace Industries is main contractor for Arrow integration and development. The radar is developed by ELTA Industries, and the battle management system is produced by Tadiran Electronic Systems, Ltd.
Boeing [BA] and IAI co-produce the Arrow II interceptor and are developing the Arrow 3 interceptor for the Israel Ministry of Defense. The system had a successful test earlier this year (Defense Daily, Feb. 24). The more powerful Arrow 3 would allow Israel to engage threat missiles at even greater ranges and altitudes, a capability “particularly effective against potentially WMD-armed ballistic missiles,” Rose said.
The X-band radar, AN/TPY-2 radar, developed by Raytheon [RTN], was deployed to Israel, and the United States and Israel worked closely on the project. The radar is linked to U.S. early warning satellites, and is intended to increase Israel’s defense and missile detection capabilities.
The United States and Israel are cooperating on the David’s Sling Weapon System to defend against short-range rocket and missile threats that fall below the optimal capability for the Arrow interceptor. Raytheon is designing and developing the system for Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
And, earlier this year, the U.S. Congress authorized more than $200 million in support for Israel’s Iron Dome interceptor system. Israel will use the funds to buy more of the defensive systems, “which showed their effectiveness in April when they successfully shot down eight rockets fired from Gaza,” Rose said. The system is designed to counter short-range missiles and rockets.
“Our mutual commitment to cooperation on missile defense research and development, on deploying proven technologies and weapon systems such as the Arrow and on gaining operational experience through joint exercises and training, will go far in enhancing Israeli security and our mutual interests and in further cementing and expanding our partnership,” Rose said.