You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Massive US-Israel Air Defense Drill Set For October
2012-10-10
Three-week exercise, postponed from spring, will be largest of its kind to date, simulate missile defense scenarios.

The US and Israel will commence the largest-ever joint air defense drill of its kind in Israel on October 21, an army source said on Tuesday.

The exercise, named Austere Challenge 12, was originally scheduled for last spring but was postponed due to regional tensions with Iran.
Or something like that, anyway.
On October 14, large numbers of American soldiers are expected to begin arriving in Israel, where they will set up aerial defense positions on Israeli territory and on US Navy vessels off the Israeli coastline.

The three-week drill will simulate various missile defense scenarios, and is expected to end with a live-fire interception of a decoy incoming Patriot missile.

One of the objectives of the drill is to facilitate the rapid deployment of US missile defense systems to Israel and test their ability to operate in conjunction with Israeli defense systems during a conflict.

The IDF Spokesman's Office said Tuesday that "the US and Israel hold regular joint exercises between the militaries.

These exercises are planned ahead of time and form part of the routine training program, aimed at improving mutual operations."

The AC12 drill forms "another milestone in the common strategic relations between the US and Israel," the office added, stressing that the drill is "unrelated to any pinpoint developments in the region."
I believe him. But I am both gullible and naive.
At the end of August, the US said it would decrease the original number of American forces due to take part in AC12. An Israeli defense source said at the time that the exercise will still be the largest of its kind to date, adding, "Defense cooperation between Israel and the US has never been better."
Note the careful limitation to defence, underlining by omission cooperation at the levels of diplomacy and heads of state.
In 2009, the IDF and US European Command held the Juniper Cobra 10 air defense exercise, which involved 1,400 US soldiers and the same number of IDF soldiers.

The drill went through three phases: a field training exercise; computer simulation command post-exercise to test interoperability capabilities; and a live-fire exercise involving a Patriot missile interception.

The exercise was hailed as a success by Israeli and American military commanders.

Separately, the Home Front Command is expected to hold its sixth annual national emergency drill on October 21. The drill will focus on testing responses to earthquakes.
That's a heads up to the Halliburton Earthquake Division. Earthquake Division to the white courtesy phone, please -- there's work to be done!
Posted by:trailing wife

#2  Lemme see, three weeks, beginning October 14 ( 14+21, carry the eleventeen), why I do believe that runs right into voting season. Do ya think that Big Bird might just be planning a little sumpin' for them what ain't voted by then??
Posted by: USN, Ret.   2012-10-10 21:48  

#1  What better way to 1. reprioritize the Israeli defense community to the point of ineffectiveness and 2. agitate the neighbors.
Posted by: Skidmark   2012-10-10 00:23  

00:00