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Israel, faced with missile threats from Iran, has increased production of Arrow missile interceptors “significantly.” (Source)

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said, “We will need to expand our arsenal of Arrow interceptors” which are capable of intercepting Iranian, Syrian Shihab, and Scud missiles. Israel’s air force also is upgrading existing Arrow interceptors to the new Arrow II missile system.

Earlier this month, Israel reported intercepting a ship that left Iran bound for Hezbollah carrying missiles, rockets, anti-tank weapons. Barak said the seizing was “another success against the relentless attempts to smuggle weapons to bolster terrorist elements threatening Israel’s security,” and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the weapons were “intended to hit Israeli cities.”

Israel and the U.S. recently conducted a joint missile defense exercise that simulated a response to an attack by the Islamic Republic, Syria, and Hezbollah. Among the systems tested were the Arrow II, THAAD, Aegis, and PAC-3. The Iron Dome is an anti-rocket shield designed to defend Israel from Hamas and Hezbollah rockets. The U.S. and Israel are working together to develop the Arrow III system to destroy multiple-warhead missiles and decoys.

Israel reported intercepting a ship that left Iran bound for Hezbollah carrying missiles, rockets, anti-tank weapons.

The ship had the appearance of an aid vessel, and the crew and chartering company claimed not to know what was on board. Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the seizing was “another success against the relentless attempts to smuggle weapons to bolster terrorist elements threatening Israel’s security,” and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the weapons were “intended to hit Israeli cities.”

Almost eight years ago, Israel intercepted a ship carrying weapons to Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

The U.S. and Israel recently conducted two joint missile drills, Juniper Cobra. The most recent drill was a simulated response to an attack by the Islamic Republic, Syria, and Hezbollah. Among the systems tested were the Arrow II, THAAD, Aegis, and PAC-3. Israel’s Iron Dome is an anti-rocket shield designed to defend Israel from Hamas and Hezbollah rockets and also serves as a major component in a multi-layered missile defense system. The U.S. and Israel are working together to develop Arrow III, designed to destroy multiple-warhead missiles and decoys.

Eli Shaked, former Israeli ambassador to Egypt, said this about Hamas and Hezbollah:

“The situation is becoming more and more complex because the weapons they are acquiring are more and more dangerous to civilian targets in Israel.”

(Story source: Associated Press – Image source: GlobalSecurity.org)

 
On the heels of conducing a joint missile defense exercise – which simulated a response to an attack by the Islamic Republic, Syria, and Hezbollah – Israel and the U.S. will conduct another today. (Source)

As part of a biennial exercise between the two countries, this drill, also called Juniper Cobra, is dubbed the “largest-ever” simulated attack on Israel. Testing air defenses, the drill will assess Arrow, THAAD, Aegis, Patriot, and Hawk defense systems. News source Yediot Aharonot noted that the “working assumption upon which the exercise is based is that the United States, in the event of a war, will provide Israel with missile defence systems that will operate alongside” the Arrow II.

The Arrow II is part of Israel’s Iron Dome, an anti-rocket shield designed to defend Israel from Hamas and Hezbollah rockets and also serves as a major component in a multi-layered missile defense system.

 
As we mentioned in the previous post, Israel is shoring up its defenses. This week, Israel and the U.S. are conducting a joint missile defense exercise called Juniper Cobra, which will simulate response to an attack by the Islamic Republic, Syria, and Hezbollah. American soldiers and missile ships are in Israel to carry out the exercise. (Source)

Among the systems tested are the Arrow II, THAAD, Aegis, and PAC-3. Israel’s Iron Dome, an anti-rocket shield, is designed to defend Israel from Hamas and Hezbollah rockets and also serves as a major component in a multi-layered missile defense system that includes the Arrow II anti-ballistic missile shield. The U.S. and Israel are working together to develop Arrow III, designed to destroy multiple-warhead missiles and decoys.

As expected, Iran isn’t taking the news well. Iranian cleric Mojtaba Zolnour, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s representative in the Revolutionary Guard, said: “Should a single American or Zionist missile land in our country, before the dust settles, Iranian missiles will blow up the heart of Israel.”

Iran has always made big threats. It defies common sense that Iran expects Israel and the U.S. to complacently neglect such preparation and simply (or simple-mindedly) trust that the rogue state’s missile and nuclear ambitions are peaceful.

Israel successfully tested the Barak missile defense system this week, leading to a decision to update the system, which can engage high-speed dangers and help protect against enemies attacking from the sea. (Source)

A simulated enemy missile was fired at a ship, and the Barak system intercepted and destroyed it.

Earlier this month, Israel successfully test-fired a missile from the homegrown Iron Dome system, which intercepted and destroyed a short-range rocket called Grad, similar to the Katyusha rocket used by the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. The Iron Dome serves as a major component in a multi-layered missile defense system that includes the Arrow II anti-ballistic missile shield. The Arrow II is designed to counter Iran’s Shahab-3 missile, which has a range of 1,250 miles.

(Image: Israel Aerospace Industries)

 
Israel successfully test-fired a missile defense system it developed, according to an Israeli Defense Minister official. A missile from the country’s Iron Dome system intercepted and destroyed a short-range rocket called Grad, similar to the Katyusha rocket used by the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. (Source)

Faced with short-range weapon and mortar shell attacks, Israel needed an anti-rocket system to neutralize these threats. The Iron Dome is an anti-rocket shield designed to defend Israel from Hamas and Hizbullah rockets and also serves as a major component in a multi-layered missile defense system that includes the Arrow II anti-ballistic missile shield. The Arrow II is designed to counter Iran’s Shahab-3 missile, which has a range of 1,250 miles, far enough to hit Israel.

Sources report that the Iron Dome may be ready to use in actual battle conditions sometime next year.

Israel considers Iran its biggest threat. In May, President Barack Obama met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to talk about problems in the Middle East. While Netanyahu hoped Obama would take a hard-line against Iran, Obama wants to meet with the rogue nation by the end of the year to talk. It’s no secret that Iran has nuclear ambitions, although it claims the program is scientific and peaceful in nature.

 
The Obama administration has proposed to increase funding for the Arrow 3 missile defense system from $30 million to $37.5 million. Based on an agreement between Israel and the U.S., the administration will increase aid to Israel from $2.55 billion to $2.78 billion. Under the agreement, Israel will receive $30 billion in defense aid over 10 years. (Source)

The Arrow 2, which Israel successfully test-fired last month, will see a budget reduction, from $74.3 million to $36.3 million. Israel’s Arrow defense system is designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles.

Overall, the budget would reduce defense spending by 15 percent. Facing nuclear threats from Iran, Israel and the U.S. need to be vigilant in developing a comprehensive missile defense system and increasing efforts to protect the homeland and our allies.

 
The The Associated Press reports that Israel wants to buy a missile defense system from the U.S. for protection against short-range rockets and mortar fire. Israel has its eyes on the Vulcan-Phalanx cannon and radar system, and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak will ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to sell the system to his country.

Made by defense contractor Raytheon, the Vulcan-Phalanx will house the Iron Dome, an anti-rocket shield Israel successfully tested earlier this month, and two additional missile systems. (The Iron Dome is designed to defend Israel from Hamas and Hizbullah rockets and also serves as a major component in a multi-layered missile defense system that includes the Arrow anti-ballistic missile shield.)

Faced with short-range weapon and mortar shell attacks, Israel needs an anti-rocket system to neutralize these threats. Protection against long-range weapons includes systems like the Arrow II, which would counter Iran’s Shahab-3 missile.

In related news, Iran has warned Israel not to attack its nuclear sites. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently called Israel a “most cruel and repressive racist regime” during a United Nations conference in Geneva. Iran is developing long-range missiles and a nuclear program, and countries like Iran and Syria have Israel in their sights.

Last year it was reported that Israel may preemptively strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, and Iran said it would retaliate by deploying the Shahab-3. Syria’s president said that if Israel attacks Iran, there would be “catastrophic consequences for the entire world.” Despite the tension, Israel is still interested in peace talks with these rogue nations.

 
Israel and the U.S. will hold three drills to test missile interceptor systems sometime this year, reportedly the largest and most complex military drills to date. (Source)

The Juniper Cobra exercise will include the Arrow II missile interceptor system, which Israel successfully test-fired last week. The system is designed to help the country defend against attacks from rogue states like Iran and Syria. Additionally, drills would test and improve the capacity of the U.S. to protect Israel if attacked.

Are these drills prompted by North Korea’s rocket launch?

>> National Review’s Kathryn Lopez posts on The Corner blog a letter from a group of bipartisan U.S. senators who oppose missile defense cuts. Senators Joe Lieberman, Jon Kyl, Mark Begich, Lisa Murkowski, Jeff Sessions, and Jim Inhofe sent the letter to President Barack Obama. An excerpt:

“We write to urge you not to allow deep cuts in U.S. missile defense programs that are critically important to protecting our homeland and our allies against the growing threat of ballistic missiles.

“Secretary of Defense Robert Gates today announced plans to cancel or reduce such major programs as the Airborne Laser, Multiple Kill Vehicle, and the installation of additional Ground-Based Interceptor missiles in Alaska, and cut the MDA’s budget for Fiscal Year 2010 by $1.4 billion. Although we applaud Secretary Gates’ commitment to such capabilities THAAD and SM-3, these proposals would amount to almost a fifteen percent cut in the MDA budget and a major reduction in our missile defense portfolio—actions that we fear could undermine our emerging missile defense capabilities to protect the United States against a growing threat.

“As you know, the threat from ballistic missiles is significant and on the rise.”

Read the rest at NRO.

>> Today Israel successfully test-fired its Arrow II interceptor missile, a system that will help the country defend against attacks from rogue states like Iran and Syria.

An unnamed source said, “The arrow’s interception altitude has been enhanced. Of course, the higher you go, the further out you can reach as well. Our doctrine is to intercept enemy missiles as far away from Israeli skies as possible. That gives you time for another try if you miss.” (Reuters)

>> According to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted before North Korea’s rocket launch, 57 percent of Americans said they support using military force to neutralize North Korea’s capability to launch missiles. Sixty-six percent of Republicans and 52 percent of Democrats said they support military involvement if North Korea moved forward with its military test. (FOXNews.com)

>> Today the U.S. issued sanctions against six Iranian companies and a Chinese man named Li Fangwei, also known as Karl Lee, for allegedly supporting Iran’s rogue ballistic missile and nuclear programs. U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey said, “Today we are acting under our Security Council and other international obligations to prevent these entities from abusing the financial system to pursue centrifuge and missile technology for Iran.” (AFP)

(Photo credit: Boeing)