2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac
2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac
2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac
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RELATIONSHIP<br />
boosting Israel’s role as an indispensable<br />
player in the war against radical Islam.<br />
The United States and Israel<br />
Cooperate on Missile Defense<br />
The close partnership between the United<br />
States and Israel has yielded leading military<br />
technologies such as the Arrow anti-ballistic<br />
missile defense system, which is currently<br />
deployed in Israel.<br />
Jointly developed by the two allies, the Arrow<br />
is among the world’s most sophisticated<br />
missile shields. It is the only operational<br />
system that has consistently proven that one missile can shoot down another at high altitudes and<br />
supersonic speeds. Israel and the United States are also collaborating on the development of a quickreaction<br />
defense system, known as David’s Sling, to address the threats posed by short- and mediumrange<br />
missiles and rockets rapidly spreading throughout the eastern Mediterranean Levant.<br />
Israel has developed the Iron Dome rocket defense system. Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in<br />
2005, terrorists in Gaza have fired more than 9,500 indiscriminate rockets into Israel. The Iron<br />
Dome, produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, uses small radar-guided missiles to intercept<br />
incoming Katyusha-style rockets. Recognizing the value of this system, the United States has already<br />
provided $275 million to help Israel fund Iron Dome. The investment has paid off: Since the<br />
system shot down its first missile in April 2011, it has proven to be close to 90 percent effective in<br />
intercepting rockets fired from Gaza at Israel. Most recently, the system intercepted more than 400<br />
rockets, missiles and mortars fired at Israel during a surge in Hamas attacks in November 2012.<br />
A centerpiece of the interaction between the two militaries has been combined missile defense<br />
training, including the biannual Juniper Cobra exercise. In this maneuver, U.S. and Israeli forces<br />
practice cooperative tactics to counter the growing threat from ballistic missiles and long-range<br />
rockets. During 2012, this drill was combined with “Austere Challenge,” the largest joint bilateral<br />
military exercise ever conducted between the two allies’ forces.<br />
The Arrow missile, developed jointly by America and Israel,<br />
is one of the world’s most sophisticated missile shields.<br />
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