Congress wants return on $1.5 billion investment in Israel missile shield
US taxpayers fork over millions of dollars every year for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. As worldwide threats grow, Congress wants deployed US troops to reap the benefits.
American taxpayers have spent more than $1.5 billion on Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system since 2011. Now Congress thinks it’s high time the technology benefits the United States.
The House Armed Services Committee voted 60-1 Wednesday to advance an annual defense bill that authorizes $30 million for the US Army to acquire Iron Dome hardware and test its interoperability with existing US missile defense systems for the first time. Congress has allocated $92 million in funding for Israel’s Iron Dome system this year, up from $62 million in 2017.
“US tax dollars have funded and really helped build these systems that are very effective in Israel and show an effectiveness,” Riki Ellison, the chairman of the nonprofit Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, told Al-Monitor. “Reaping some of those benefits of those systems into our systems seems to be a logical thing.”
The bill comes as the US Army is concerned that deficiencies in its short-range air defense capabilities could hinder military operations in Europe, particularly as tensions with Russia continue to mount. Iron Dome, which was first developed to defend against Palestinian rocket attacks, can defend an area of nearly 60 square miles.
