The Obama administration is planning to announce this week a $680 million aid package to Israel for the procurement of additional Iron Dome batteries.

The announcement will be made following a meeting between Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the Pentagon on Thursday. The two will hold a joint press conference following the meeting.

Iron Dome battery - Photo: Marc Israel Sellem

Israel currently has four operational Iron Dome batteries and the Air Force plans to deploy an additional 3 over the coming year. The $680 million in aid will enable Israel to purchase 3-4 more batteries and accompanying interceptors.

Since its deployment last year, Iron Dome batteries have intercepted nearly 100 Katyusha and Kassam rockets fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Barak’s talks with Panetta will also focus on Iran’s continued pursuit of a nuclear capability. They will also discuss the upcoming second round of talks between western powers and Iran scheduled for May 23 in Baghdad.

The new aid package comes after the Obama administration gave Israel $205 million in 2011 and is in addition to the $3 billion Israel receives in annual foreign military aid from the United States.

There has been speculation that the US’s decision to increase funding for Iron Dome could be a sign of improved coordination between Jerusalem and Washington regarding Iran and possibly an indication that Israel is not planning to attack the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities in the near future.

In addition to funding for new batteries, Congress also supports the development of Arrow-3 – Israel’s futuristic defense system against ballistic missiles – as well David’s Sling, the medium-range missile defense system under development by Raytheon and Rafael.

The Iron Dome is designed to defend against rockets at a range of 4-70 kilometers. Each battery consists of a mini multi-mission radar manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries and three launchers, each equipped with 20 interceptors called Tamirs.

The radar enables Iron Dome operators to predict the impact site of the enemy rocket and decide not to intercept it if it is slated to hit an open area. Each interceptor costs between $50,000-100,000 and usually two are fired at rockets slated for interception.

View Source
By YAAKOV KATZ