Defense Ministry completes Iron Dome delivery to the US Army
These batteries will be employed in the defense of US troops against a variety of ballistic and aerial threats, the Defense Ministry said.
By UDI SHAHAMIsrael delivers the second of two Iron Dome Defense System batteries to the US Army, January 2021 (Defense Ministry)
Israel delivered the second of two Iron Dome defense system batteries to the US Army over the weekend, the Defense Ministry said Sunday.The move was carried out by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), a division in the ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D).The batteries will be employed in the defense of US troops against a variety of ballistic and aerial threats, the Defense Ministry said.“The delivery of the Iron Dome to the US Army once again demonstrates the close relations between the Israel Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, the effectiveness of the system against various threats, and the excellent technological capabilities of Israeli industries,” Defense Minister Benny Gantz said.“I am confident that the system will assist the US Army in protecting American troops from ballistic and airborne threats as well as from developing threats in the areas where US troops are deployed on various missions,” he added.In August 2019, the US and Israel signed an agreement for the procurement of two Iron Dome defense system batteries (IDDS-A).The first battery was delivered last September and is undergoing a process of implementation in the US. The second battery was delivered in accordance with the agreement and project schedule.The prime contractor for the development and production of the Iron Dome is Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. The MMR radar was developed by ELTA, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The command and control system (BMC) was developed by mPrest.Iron Dome is an integral part of Israel’s multilayered defense array developed by the IMDO. It includes the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 weapon systems.Last month, as part of a series of live-fire intercept tests, the Iron Dome system intercepted a cruise missile for the first time.