|
Trending Topics
|
U.S.-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation Tightens
(The Hill) Jacob Nagel and Jonathan Schanzer - Israel's new Arrow 3 interceptor, recently tested in Alaska, provides Israel with the ability to defend against long-range, advanced Iranian missiles like the Shahab 3, with interception deep in space. American and Israeli coordination on missile defense has been important for both sides. The U.S. Army recently signed an agreement to acquire two Iron Dome batteries for defense against short-range threats. David's Sling, jointly developed by Rafael and Raytheon for middle-range threats and against cruise missiles, may ultimately serve the needs of the U.S. and its allies in Poland, Japan, and South Korea, particularly if it is paired with the Patriot system. Lasers are likely to be an important part of the next frontier in missile defense. In recent years, the technology of solid state lasers has made strides. But even when it is ready for deployment, it won't be applicable for upper layers of defense. Lasers are expected to be particularly effective at short range as part of an existing system, like Iron Dome. Prof. Jacob Nagel, a former head of Israel's National Security Council and a former national security advisor, is a visiting fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where Jonathan Schanzer, a former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Treasury Department, is senior vice president.