U.S. To Support Israeli Missile Programs

The United States is seeking participation in developing Israel's Iron Dome counter-missile system.

The U.S. House of Representatives tripled the funding requests of Israeli missile defense systems from $96 million to $284 million, following the increases in U.S. support for the Israeli missile programs.

The U.S. financial backing for the missile defense systems began in the 1980s with the high-altitude Arrow program.

The U.S. House Armed Services Committee recently approved the $284 million funding hike. That includes an additional $15 million in funding for the Iron Dome system developed by Rafael.

It's the only one of Israel's anti-missile weapons that's been tested in combat, and also the only one of those programs in which U.S. have not participated, and thus had no access to the advanced technology involved.

Iron Dome, the bottom tier of the Israeli anti-missile shield, is designed to intercept short-range missiles and rockets. Its unique feature is its computerized fire-control system, which can determine the trajectories of hostile missiles. It only engages those that will hit populated areas and ignores those that won't.

U.S. defense contractors have been seeking for some time to participate in Iron Dome.

The U.S. House committee's funding increase stipulated, in an amendment proposed by Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., that "it may be obligated or expended for enhancing the capability of producing the Iron Dome system program in the United States, including for infrastructure, tooling, transferring data, special test equipment and related components."

In March, the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency for the first time included in its annual budget $220 million for Israel to buy more Iron Dome batteries in fiscal 2014. That was the first time the agency has specifically sought money for Iron Dome, underlining the U.S. Defense Department's effort to maintain military aid for Israel despite major cutbacks in defense spending.

The agency is also expected to seek another $520 million to fund other Israeli anti-missile systems, including the David's Sling and the high-altitude Arrow-3 currently under development.

The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate indicated in 2012 they wanted to approve spending up to $680 million for Iron Dome through 2015.

The Arrow-3 developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and the Boeing Company, is intended to intercept Iranian and Syrian ballistic missiles outside Earth's atmosphere.

Israel is although concerned that joint development of these systems with the Americans, could inhibit export sales -- India and South Korea are interested in Iron Dome and Arrow, but seem to have little choice but to accept U.S. participation.