U.S. to Assist Israel in Improving its Missile Defense System
This post is also available in: 
עברית (Hebrew)
An amendment in the U.S. foreign military aid proposal will add $173 million for U.S.-Israeli cooperative missile defense programs, including nearly $34 million to improve the Arrow weapon system and $22 million for work on developing another, more advanced interceptor. The move signals further cooperation between Boeing and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
$117.2 million will go toward development of the David’s Sling short-range ballistic missile defense system, which is being developed jointly by Rafael and Raytheon. The system, which is designed to intercept medium range missiles, was successfully tested in November. It is slated for deployment in 2014.
iHLS – Israel Homeland Security
The proposed amendment also backed U.S. President Barack Obama’s request of $220 million for Israel to buy additional Iron Dome short-range interceptor missiles and the batteries they are launched from. An additional $15 million will be directed for U.S. co-production of Iron Dome components. Raytheon has a joint marketing agreement with Israeli state-owned manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for the Iron Dome system.
