Ukraine Requests Israel’s Iron Dome

Ukraine’s government has officially sent a request to Israel for the Iron Dome air defense system for use against Russia’s relentless missile attacks.

Russia has been using a number of drones such as Shahed 136 and Mohajer-6 produced in Iran, Israel’s arch rival. Tehran is also expected to deliver Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar ballistic missiles to Russia.

"In order to ensure the protection of peaceful population, Ukraine makes an official offer to Israel to initiate the practical mutual cooperation in the field of air/missile defense," the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel wrote in the letter. “Ukraine is highly interested in obtaining from Israel (in shortest possible terms) defense systems, in particular: Iron Beam, Barak-8, Patriot, Iron Dome, David's Sling, Arrow Interceptor and Israeli support in training for Ukrainian operators.”

Iron Dome uses radar-directed interceptors to blow hostile projectiles from the sky. It can intercept rockets, mortar shells, UAVS and cruise missiles; but not large, guided missiles. Israel’s military claims the system took down more than 97 percent of 470 rockets fired by Islamic Jihad forces in Gaza during a three-day escalation in August.

Experts however told The Washington Post that the Iron Dome will stay out of Ukraine’s reach, as Jerusalem seeks to maintain strategic relations with Russia in Syria and other hot spots.

“Israel has great experience with air defense and Iron Dome, and we need exactly the same system in our city,” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in an interview Tuesday, a day after six residents were killed in the strikes. “We have been talking with them a long time about it. Those discussions have not been successful.”