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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 />

46

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