Israel accelerates production of Iron Dome with US aid money

JERUSALEM — Israel will accelerate production of Iron Dome components with “billions of dollars” of U.S. aid money, the Israeli Defense Ministry said Nov. 20.

The announcement comes amid a tense ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, as Hezbollah continues to arm and strengthen itself in Lebanon and Hamas declares that it has no intention of giving up weapons. Israel used Iron Dome interceptors to intercept thousands of rockets fired from these two fronts during the two-year “Iron Swords” war.

Government officials here did not specify the exact amount of the purchase, but its Defense Ministry noted that the it will be made from the special U.S. aid package approved by Congress in April 2024 under the Biden administration, totaling at $8.7 billion.

This is the second purchase of interceptors from Rafael by the Israeli Defense Ministry in the past year that from that pot of money.

Israeli officials have said Iron Dome interceptors caught thousands of rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon.

Iron Dome is an air defense system that intercepts short- and medium-range rockets and missiles, mortars, drones, helicopters and more. The Israeli Air Force claims that since the defense system began its operational service in 2011 it has shown a 95% interception success rate.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is the prime contractor for the Iron Dome defense system, collaborating with ELTA Systems - a division in Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and mPrest Systems.

Tzally Greenberg is the Israel correspondent for Defense News. He has experience reporting on economic affairs as well as defense and cyber companies.

耶路撒冷——以色列国防部11月20日表示，以色列将利用美国数十亿美元的援助资金加快“铁穹”系统部件的生产。

这项声明发布之际，加沙和黎巴嫩的停火局势依然紧张。真主党继续在黎巴嫩扩充军备，而哈马斯则宣称无意放弃武器。在长达两年的“铁剑”战争中，以色列曾使用“铁穹”拦截系统拦截了从这两个战线发射的数千枚火箭弹。

当地政府官员没有具体说明采购金额，但国防部指出，这笔款项将来自拜登政府于 2024 年 4 月批准的美国特别援助计划，总额为 87 亿美元。

这是以色列国防部在过去一年中第二次从拉斐尔公司购买拦截机，而这笔资金也是从那笔款项中拨出的。

以色列官员表示，“铁穹”拦截系统拦截了数千枚从加沙和黎巴嫩发射的火箭弹。

“铁穹”是一种防空系统，能够拦截短程和中程火箭弹、导弹、迫击炮弹、无人机、直升机等多种攻击目标。以色列空军声称，自该防御系统于2011年投入使用以来，其拦截成功率高达95%。

拉斐尔先进防御系统公司是“铁穹”防御系统的主要承包商，与以色列航空航天工业公司 (IAI) 旗下的 ELTA 系统公司和 mPrest 系统公司合作。

特扎利·格林伯格是《防务新闻》的以色列记者。他拥有丰富的经济事务以及国防和网络安全公司报道经验。