United States will provide $70 million to support Israel Iron Dome air defense system 1905121

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Defense News - Israel

 
 
Saturday, May 19, 2012, 10:21 AM
 
United States will provide $70 million to support Israel Iron Dome air defense system program.
The Pentagon will seek to provide Israel with an additional $70 million in the coming months for its short-range rocket shield, known as the "Iron Dome," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said after a meeting with his Israeli counterpart on Thursday, May 17, 2012.
     
The Pentagon will seek to provide Israel with an additional $70 million in the coming months for its short-range rocket shield, known as the "Iron Dome," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said after a meeting with his Israeli counterpart on Thursday, May 17, 2012.
Israeli Iron Dome is an air defense system for countering short range rockets with
a range of up to 70 km.
     

"My goal is to ensure Israel has the funding it needs each year to produce these batteries that can protect its citizens," Panetta said. "That is why going forward over the next three years, we intend to request additional funding for Iron Dome based on an annual assessment of Israeli security requirements against an evolving threat."

"This announcement is an important step and a reflection of the extraordinarily close defense relationship between our countries," he added.

The US defense chief promised that Washington is open to providing further funding to the Iron Dome system in the next three years, "based on annual assessment of Israeli security requirements against an evolving threat."

The United States has already provided 205 million dollars in funding for the Iron Dome system. "This is part of our rock solid commitment to Israel's security and comes on top of approximately $3 billion in annual security assistance for Israel," Panetta said.

The Iron Dome is an effective and innovative mobile defense solution for countering short range rockets and 155 mm artillery shell threats with ranges of up to 70 km in all weather conditions, including low clouds, rain, dust storms or fog.