US to transfer additional $70M for Israel's Iron Dome

After Pentagon meeting with Barak, Defense Secretary Panetta says 'my goal is to ensure Israel has funding to produce missile defense batteries that can protect its citizens'

Yitzhak Benhorin, Reuters|Published: 05.17.12 , 21:59

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon will seek to provide Israel with an additional $70 million in the coming months for its short-range rocket shield, known as the "Iron Dome," US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said after a meeting with his Israeli counterpart on Thursday.

So far, the United States has provided $205 million to support the Iron Dome, manufactured by Israel's state-owned Raphael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. The system uses small radar-guided missiles to blow up in midair Katyusha-style rockets with ranges of 5 km (3 miles) to 70 km (45 miles), as well as mortar bombs.

But top Republicans have criticized President Barack Obama for what they described as inadequate funding of US-Israeli missile defense cooperation in his 2013 budget request released in February amid deficit-reduction requirements.

לאון פנטה ואהוד ברק בוושינגטון (צילום: ,Chad J. McNeeleyחיל הים האמריקאי.)

Barak (L) and Panetta in Washington (Photo: Chad J. McNeeley)

Panetta said the Pentagon would seek additional funding for the Iron Dome program over the next three years "based on an annual assessment of Israeli security requirements."

"My goal is to ensure Israel has the funding it needs each year to produce these batteries that can protect its citizens," Panetta said.

He said the $70 million would be provided this fiscal year, which ends in September.

"This is assistance that, provided Congress concurs, we can move quickly, to ensure no shortage in this important system," Panetta said in a statement after meeting Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak at the Pentagon.

Following the meeting, Barak issued a statement in which he thanked the Obama administration for the aid and for its commitment to Israel's security.

As of April, Israel had deployed three operating units of the system, which helped thwart Palestinian rocket salvos during a flare-up in fighting around the Gaza Strip in March. It has spoken of needing a total of 13 or 14 units to protect various fronts.

The system intercepted more than 80% of the targets it engaged in March when nearly 300 rockets and mortars were fired at southern Israel, saving many lives, a US Defense Department spokesman said on March 27.