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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Obama Gives And Takes From Israeli Missile Defenses |
| 2009-04-08 |
| The Obama administration has raised the prospect of selling Standard Missile-3 missile defense system, produced by Raytheon sea-based missile defense system to Israel. In return, the administration would end the current Missile Defense Agency program to develop and deploy the Arrow-3, an enhanced version of Israel's medium-tier interceptor. SM-3, deployed on U.S. Navy cruisers, has been regarded as the most effective system to intercept enemy ballistic missiles. "SM-3 could complement Israel's existing missile defense network and the fact that its sea-based would enable the interception of ballistic missiles in the initial stage of launch," an official said. The administration offer was part of a White House plan to cut U.S. missile defense procurement and development over the next two years. Unlike the previous administration, Obama was said to be skeptical over the effectiveness of a U.S. missile defense network. "There is pressure that whatever U.S. [missile defense] funds are left should go to American companies without any participation of foreign partners," the official said. Arrow-3 has marked a partnership between Boeing and the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries. Arrow-3, expected to be deployed by 2013, was designed to intercept missiles at an altitude of more than 100 kilometers, which would enable the destruction of enemy nuclear warheads. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #4 About of the cost = About half of the cost |
| Posted by: ed 2009-04-08 22:19 |
| #3 95% of the cost of developing the Arrow was paid by US taxpayers. The interesting parts are made by US defense contractors. About of the cost of deployment comes directly from Uncle Sam. In reality, the vast majority likely comes from the US taxpayer via the Israeli share coming from the $3B annual military aid. Putting the foot down on Arrow-3 serves to consolidate US BMD dollars into fewer overlapping systems. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-04-08 22:18 |
| #2 That's how I read it, though the Arrow has our hand in it as well. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2009-04-08 12:59 |
| #1 If Israel is smart they will keep control of their own system. I can see BHØ using control of the SM-3 system to keep them under his thumb. |
| Posted by: tipover 2009-04-08 12:01 |