Pentagon Asks $146 Million for Israel Missiles, Other Programs

Pentagon Asks $146 Million for Israel Missiles, Other Programs

 

Pentagon documents, released on Tuesday, show that the United States will continue to support Israel’s Iron Dome system, a short-range missile interceptor, and help fund David's Sling, designed to defeat medium-range missiles, as well as the Arrow ballistic missile system, Press TV reported.

The requests for new funding are tucked in the Defense Department's $583 billion budget for 2017, which was submitted by the Pentagon chief, Ashton Carter, on Tuesday.

In addition to about $42 million for Iron Dome, the US Missile Defense Agency's budget request included $103.8 million for cooperative programs with Israel, down from $267.6 million in fiscal 2016, Reuters reported.

Vice Admiral James Syring, director of the Missile Defense Agency, said his agency was working with Israel under a co-production agreement signed for the Iron Dome system.

Syring also said the two sides were trying to reach a second co-production agreement for the David's Sling program without giving a time frame.

Washington has given Israel more than $3 billion since 2001 for its missile programs.

A high-level US delegation visited Israel last month to work out the final details of an approximately $41 billion aid package to be paid over a decade.

Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign assistance since World War II.

US military aid to Israel has amounted to more than $124.3 billion since it began in 1962, according to a US congressional report, released late last year.

Experts say strong congressional support for Israel has resulted in Israel receiving benefits not available to any other country.