As the U.S. Senate considers the latest National Defense Authorization Act, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced last week that $500 million had been added to benefit the U.S.–Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Program.
This inclusion will benefit the development of certain missile systems, such as the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow 3, which work to provide Israel a multi-tiered defense system effective against other nations and non-state actors. Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, has long lobbied for funding for the program.
“The U.S.-Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Program is critical for the safety and protection of Israel, our close friend and ally,” Gillibrand said. “As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I’m proud to fight for this vital program, which will promote stability and help keep countless citizens of Israel safe from missile attacks.”
David’s Sling refers to a short-range missile defense system capable of addressing threats from large caliber artillery rockets and short-range ballistic missiles. The Iron Dome is a more mobile solution, meant to counter short-range rockets and 155 mm artillery shells, with a range of up to 70 km. By contrast, the Arrow focuses on ballistic missiles and was developed with a special eye toward threats from nearby Iran.
The funding addition comes as Israel prepares to annex approximately one-third of the occupied West Bank.
In the Senate, Gillibrand has been a frequent supporter of the missile defense program, though. Together with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), she secured similar funding last year, and $700 million in funding the year before that.