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Israel and its closest ally US will test three different ballistic missile defence BMD systems in an unprecedented joint exercise later this year to thwart any danger emanating from Iran8217;s pursuit for nuclear capability,the media in Israel reported.
The exercise named 8220;Juniper Cobra8221;,which is to be held in Israel,is set to include the newly developed indigenous Arrow 2,America8217;s THAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defence and the ship-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence systems,the 8216;Jerusalem Post8217; said,without mentioning the exact dates for the exercise.
The tests are likely to include the launching of interceptors from these missile defence systems.
Israel Air Force8217;s Air Defence Division,the US Missile Defence Agency and the US Military8217;s European Command EUCOM have held the 8216;Juniper Cobra8217; exercise for the past five years,but the forthcoming exercise will be the 8220;most complex and extensive8221; till date,the report said.
Plans for the exercise were revealed in a testimony US Missile Defence Agency Director,Lt Gen Patrick J O8217;Reilly,gave to the House Appropriations Committee8217;s subcommittee on defence earlier this month,the paper said.
8220;The Juniper Cobra exercise between EUCOM and the Israel Defence Forces IDF will be the fifth and most complex exercise yet designed,8221; O8217;Reilly had told the subcommittee.
8220;US ballistic missile defence elements such as the AN/TPY-2 the American X-Band radar deployed in the Negev 8211; YK,THAAD and Aegis BMD will participate in these flight tests and exercises to demonstrate the interoperability and develop operational tactics,techniques and procedures associated with this coalition architecture,8221; he said.
The Israel Air Force last week held its 17th test of the Arrow 2 interceptor,shooting down a missile mimicking an Iranian Shihab ballistic missile.
O8217;Reilly,in his testimony,had also said that in February the David Sling missile defence system underwent a successful 8220;booster fly-out8221; test.
The exercise involved the successful launching of a missile by the system that Israel and the US are developing jointly to intercept medium-range missiles between 70 and 250 kms. The first intercept test of the system is scheduled to take place in 2010.
The US official also told the subcommittee that the
Missile Defence Agency supported the development and US funding of Israel8217;s Arrow 3,the future of which is currently undecided since Secretary of Defence Robert Gates announced extensive cuts to the US defence budget last week.
While the Arrow 3 had a reduced 30-year life cycle cost and was potentially more suitable for Israeli requirements,the development of the system was deemed to have a 8220;high schedule risk,8221; including 8220;technical risks,8221; the report said.
In view of this,O8217;Reilly had said the Missile Defence Agency was looking into the development of a land-based variant of the Aegis system,which currently fires SM-3 interceptors from naval ships.
Fearing a cut in US funding of the system,Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak will on Thursday meet New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey,who serves as the Chair of Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee,responsible for approving funding for the continued development of Arrow 3.
Lowey will be in Israel as part of a congressional delegation,but officials told the 8216;Post8217; that her meeting with Barak is of extreme importance in light of the indecision regarding the continued funding of the Arrow 3.
Israel is hoping to secure USD 150 million to continue with the development of the system by Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing.
