"U.S. Approves Shipment of Two Iron Dome Batteries to Israel"

The U.S. Defense Department has announced that two Iron Dome missile defense systems will be provided to Israel by the Pentagon, as Israel continues to combat the militant group Hamas.

"The deadliest day for Israel in 50 years occurred on October 7 when Hamas launched a massive, coordinated attack. As a response to this situation, the U.S. has committed to sending additional Iron Dome support to Israel, aiming to bolster its air defense. The U.S. Army previously procured two Iron Dome systems several years ago, as requested by Congress, to address cruise missile defense gaps while developing long-term countermeasures for air and missile threats. However, the Army does not plan to acquire more Iron Domes or integrate the system into its existing air defense framework, as disclosed by Army officials to Defense News.

The two Iron Dome batteries have seen limited use, with Army personnel conducting training exercises at Fort Bliss, Texas. One of the systems was deployed to Guam at the end of 2021 for a two-week exercise, while the others remained at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

Although the U.S. Defense Department official did not specify the terms of the battery transfer, it represents a significant show of support for Israel's air defense. The official did not indicate whether the batteries would be returned to the U.S. after potential combat use. Additionally, the U.S. has announced the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery and Patriot air defense battalions to the region, further enhancing Israel's defense capabilities.

The U.S. continues to expand its security assistance to Israel, including the delivery of air defense supplies, munitions, artillery rounds, armored vehicles, and precision-guided munitions. This support is part of a broader American effort to provide assistance in response to the ongoing conflict.

As a sign of this commitment, the U.S. has deployed carrier strike groups to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf, with additional troops and a Marine expeditionary unit prepared for immediate deployment if required. Senior U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and President Joe Biden, have visited Israel and pledged continued U.S. support.

In a recent address from the Oval Office, President Biden requested over $100 billion in supplemental security aid from Congress, with $14.3 billion allocated for Israel. Notably, this aid has not been tied to conditions requiring Israel to limit civilian casualties.

However, U.S. officials have publicly called on Israel to adhere to the laws of war during its retaliatory actions. As the conflict continues, reports indicate that more than 5,000 people in Gaza have lost their lives, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is administered by Hamas.

The Iron Dome missile defense system is among the most effective air defense systems globally, with a successful track record in intercepting more than 2,000 rockets. Each Iron Dome battery comprises three key components: radar, command-and-control systems, and launchers for interceptors. These components play a critical role in enhancing Israel's defense capabilities, with extra radars improving threat detection, and more launchers and command-and-control technology expanding the system's capacity to protect Israeli territory from rocket attacks.

Should the conflict extend beyond the Gaza Strip, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah possesses tens of thousands of rockets, potentially posing a significant threat. Recent reports have indicated that Israel's military targeted two Hezbollah cells that were allegedly preparing to launch rockets across the border."

Related:

Bahrain and other Gulf States Set To Buy Iron Dome System

US to Raise Finance of Israeli "Iron Dome" Defense System

US Army Buys Its First Iron Dome from Israel

Bahrain and other Gulf States Set To Buy Iron Dome System

Bahrain and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are in negotiations to buy the Israeli-developed Iron Dome anti-missile system to defend against "a growing arsenal of Iranian missiles".
The Israeli weapon, which has reduced the effectiveness of rockets fired out of Gaza into Israel by about 90% would be bought through Raytheon and other American contractors who developed the Iron Dome with Israeli arms giant Rafael.
A deal for the whole of the GCC, which includes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, would be worth tens, perhaps hundreds, of billions of dollars.
Bahrain's foreign minister said on a visit to London: "The Israelis have their small Iron Dome. We'll have a much bigger one in the GCC."
The sale of Israeli-developed weapons to a Gulf state, or states, would have been controversial for both the Israelis and the buyers a few years ago.
But both now see one of the main threats to them as the growing military strength and ambitions of Iran.
sky.com

US to Raise Finance of Israeli "Iron Dome" Defense System

United States Congress will vote, in the next few days, on a resolution to raise its financial contribution to the Israeli Iron Dome system to 1.2 billion dollars.
Congressional negotiators agreed on a resolution to spend 1.1 trillion dollars, including 351 million dollars to finance the Iron Dome in 2015, according to the PNN.
The financial project reportedly covers a sum total of 619.8 million dollars for the Israeli arms program, including an extra 172 million dollars for missile defense systems.
However, the resolution holds back 175 million dollars of the total sum until the Israelis provide more documents, to the Pentagon and Congress, in regard to the program and behind-schedule plans to build part of the system in the United States.
Congress' condition is to involve US companies in manufacturing parts of the Iron Dome in collaboration with Israel's "Rafael" company for arms development.
PNN further reports that "Raytheon", a major American defense contractor and the world's largest producer of guided missiles, won an Israeli contract last September to supply $149.3 million in Tamir missiles, the projectiles used in Israel's Iron Dome defense system.
imemc.org

US Army Buys Its First Iron Dome from Israel

Israel had been struggling to sell the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system abroad, but the Israel Defense website revealed on Sunday that a major purchaser has been found: the United States.
Apparently the US Army will acquire one Iron Dome battery, and based on tests it will conduct on the system decide whether or not to purchase more units of the Israeli defense system that reportedly boasted a 90% hit rate in Operation Protective Edge.
Israel Defense notes that at the beginning of Iron Dome's development the US Army didn't have much confidence in the system, which is why it was funded with a special budget and not the ordinary annual US defense budget that is allocated for other anti-missile systems such as the Arrow.
Having seen the system proven in war, the US now apparently is considering deploying it to defend military establishments and US soldiers around the world.
By doing so, Iron Dome may be included in the "normal" defense budget for Israel, which requires roughly 75% of Israel's defense spending to be of American-made military hardware. It also will allow Israel and the US to offer the system for sale to several other countries, such as Poland, Ukraine and South Korea.
India has also reportedly been interested in buying the Israeli-made system.
israelnationalnews

Iron Dome being navalised

RAFAEL is extending the Iron Dome Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar defense system to the maritime domain, to protect surface vessels from a wide range of threats, including ballistic trajectory and direct attack weapons. The navalized system is dubbed ‘C-Dome’
defense-update

South Korea interested in Iron Dome

South Korea is interested in buying the Iron Dome anti-missile system, its manufacturer, Rafael , said yesterday.
Iron Dome, which uses guided missiles to shoot down the Katyusha-style short-range rockets favored by Palestinian and Lebanese guerrillas, has scored around a 90% success rate in the month-old Gaza war.
According Rafael CEO the system’s performance had fuelled foreign interest in it, including by South Korea, which is in an armed standoff with North Korea.
“[South Korea] is very worried not only about rockets, but other things as well".
Rafael has not made public any foreign sales so far, giving priority to supplying Iron Domes to Israel, which has fielded nine out of a planned total of 12 interceptor units.
Washington has extensively funded the Israeli deployment and supplies of interceptor missiles.
haaretz

Pentagon Supports Emergency $225M for Israel's Iron Dome

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel sent a letter to congressional leadership on Tuesday requesting $225 million in additional US funding to accelerate production of Iron Dome missile-defense components to ensure Israel will have adequate stockpiles to protect itself from rockets launched by Hamas militants in Gaza.
Israel requested the extra components in recent days, and the Pentagon supports the request.
defensenews

Israel Readies First US Co-Production Order for Iron Dome

Israel fielded its seventh Iron Dome intercepting battery under fire last week in an operational debut that destroyed five Gaza-launched rockets headed for Tel Aviv.
The July 10 interception over Tel Aviv by Israel’s Iron Dome battery averted strategic tailwind for Hamas, which claimed credit for the attack that could have triggered a full-scale Israeli invasion of Gaza.
That critical interception and 100 others scored by Iron Dome since the July 7 start of Operation Protective Edge highlights the “strategic significance” of active defenses in Israel’s battle against more than 10,000 Gaza-based rockets threatening nearly three quarters of the country.
As of press time on July 11, no Israelis had been killed in more than 400 Gaza-launched rocket attacks. In contrast, Israeli air, land and sea-based strikes against more than 1,100 targets throughout the strip killed nearly 100 uninvolved Palestinians, most of them women and children.
As Rafael works on the eighth battery in parallel to fast-tracked production of intercepting missiles, it is preparing to receive the first Defense Ministry procurement contract for US-based builds in support of Iron Dome.
The firm recently finalized an agreement making Raytheon its US partner in co-production of major components for the Iron Dome’s Tamir intercepting missile.
The US firm will supply components through various subcontractors.
US investment in Iron Dome was nearly $900 million.
defensenews

Israel deploys Iron Dome near Syrian border at Golan Heights

Military sources said the Israel Air Force has stationed an Iron Dome battery near the Golan Heights, divided between Israel and Syria. They said the battery was meant to protect against rocket and mortar fire from either Lebanon or Syria because of an alert of such a threat.
On late June 4, Iron Dome was activated to stop a mortar attack from Syria. The sources said the battery fired two interceptors, but redirected after the mortars were determined as heading toward open areas.
This marked the first time that Iron Dome, was employed near Lebanon or Syria.
Iron Dome has proven unable to stop mortars, a key form of attack from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. The Israeli side of the Golan Heights has undergone steady fire from Syria. The sources said the military assessed that most of the fire represented stray shells in battles between Sunni rebels and the Syrian
Army.
But the sources did not rule out intensified fire from the Syrian town of Quneitra, which contains an army base. The sources said Sunni rebels, including those trained by the United States, were trying to force Israel to attack the Syrian Army.
worldtribune

Gaza Strikes Stress Israel's Iron Dome

Two Gaza-launched rockets evaded Israel’s Iron Dome defenses in a stormy evening that rained at least 60 rockets on Israel, five of which hit populated areas.
Iron Dome batteries deployed in areas surrounding Gaza scored three intercepts March 12 in salvo attacks unseen since its Nov. 2012 Pillar of Defense standoff strike campaign,
By midnight March 12, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced retaliatory airstrikes on 29 sites north and south of the strip. Defense sources here suggested more action to come.
defensenews

Israel plans laser interceptor 'Iron Beam' for short-range rockets

Israel plans to deploy a new missile shield known as "Iron Beam" next year which would use a laser to blow up short-range rockets and mortar bombs.
The system is designed to deal with threats that fly on too small a trajectory to be engaged efficiently by Iron Dome, the Israeli interceptor credited with an 80 percent success rate against rockets fired by Palestinian militants.
Both shields are manufactured by state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. While Iron Dome launches radar-guided interceptor rockets, Iron Beam's laser will super-heat the warheads of shells with ranges of up to 7 km (4.5 miles).
Iron Dome is complemented by Arrow II, an Israeli interceptor designed to shoot down ballistic missiles at atmospheric heights. Israel plans to integrate them with the more powerful rocket interceptors Arrow III and David's Sling, both of which are still in their testing phases.
The United States has extensively underwritten the projects, seeing them as a means of reassuring its Middle East ally as instability rocks the region.
reuters

US-Israel David's Sling Aces 2nd Intercept Test

The US-Israel David’s Sling Weapon System (DSWS) scored a “major milestone” Wednesday with a successful intercept of a short-range ballistic missile target at a test range in southern Israel.
Wednesday’s intercept marks the second test success since the beginning of the year, and aims to ready the system for initial deployment in 2014.
Jointly funded by the US and Israel, David’s Sling is designed to defend against long-range rockets and short-range missiles. Later block versions will extend performance to defend against cruise missiles and other air-breathing targets.
Developed by Israel’s state-owned Rafael Ltd. in conjunction with its US partner Raytheon Co., DSWS will provide an additional layer to Israel’s multi-layer active defense intercepting network. When deployed, it will serve as a bridge between the operationally proven lower-tier Iron Dome and the operational Arrow-2 and planned Upper Tier Arrow-3.
Supporting the DSWS is the Multi-Mission Radar by Elta, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, and the Golden Almond battle management and control system developed by Elisra-Elbit Systems.
defensenews

Israel deploys Iron Dome defence system

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said Israel deployed its Iron Dome missile defence system to bolster its security as the West weighed military strikes on neighbouring Syria.
But he echoed President Shimon Peres in insisting that Israel is not involved in Syria’s civil war but will respond with all its might if attacked.
defencetalk

For the first time, Iron Dome intercepts missile fired at Eilat

A missile shoot at Eilat shortly before 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning, triggering an air raid siren and activating the Iron Dome anti-rocket battery, which is stationed at the Red Sea city.
The Iron Dome system intercepted at least one missile, according to initial IDF assessments. The incident marked the first time that Iron Dome has ever intercepted a rocket fired at Eilat.
jpost

Raytheon, US Army complete first AI3 guided flight test series, the America 'Iron Dome?

Raytheon and the U.S. Army successfully completed the first guided test vehicle (GTV) flight series of the Accelerated Improved Intercept Initiative (AI3) program. The series consisted of two flight tests against different target profiles. In each case after launch, the interceptor initially guided on in-flight radio frequency datalink updates from the fire control radar that was tracking the inbound rocket target threat. The on-board seeker provided the missile's terminal guidance to intercept the target.
raytheon

Israel IDF Places Iron Dome Battery in Carmel Region

The IDF placed an Iron Dome anti-missile battery in the Carmel region near Haifa on Friday.
Last week the system was deployed in the Haifa port area. The IDF explained that changing the location of the battery is part of the implementation of the system in the vicinity of Haifa.
israelnationalnews

Israel gets sixth Iron Dome, awaits David's Sling

As the Middle East descends deeper into conflict, Israel's military is set to deploy its sixth Iron Dome counter-rocket battery, produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and is preparing to take delivery of the first unit of David's Sling, another Rafael anti-missile system.
spacewar

Israeli David's Sling anti-missile system unveiled in Paris

David's Sling, designed to protect Israel from midrange missiles, is expected to be operational within two years • It will become part of Israel's multilayered missile defense network, which also includes the Iron Dome and Arrow systems.
israelhayom

Pentagon seeks $220 million for Israel’s Iron Dome

The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency for the first time in its regular annual budget contains funds to buy additional Iron Dome missile defense systems for Israel
jpost

Israel deploys Iron Dome to counter Sinai threat

The deteriorating security situation in the so-called "wild south" in the Sinai desert region of Egypt has prompted Israel to deploy an Iron Dome rocket interceptor system near Eilat. This is the fifth such battery to have been deployed by the Israeli air force.
Egyptian authorities have been unable to counter the terror organisations that are now operating from the Sinai area, and Israeli sources say that some of the rockets that exploded in Israel earlier this month were launched from the region.
Iron Dome, a mobile defence system developed by Rafael, is intended to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells that are judged to threaten civilians. During last year's conflict with militants in the Gaza Strip, the equipment intercepted more than 90% of the M-21 Grad and Kassam rockets that were fired into Israel.
The system's main components include a tracking radar, a battle management and weapons control unit and interceptor missiles, which can detonate incoming threats from ranges up to 37nm (70km).
flightglobal