The United States Congress has approved the 600 million dollar budget for missile defense cooperation with Israel for the fiscal year 2017. The decisive vote of the Senate a few hours ago, after the approval of the Chamber took place last week. Specifically, the sum will be divided as follows: 268,7 million dollars for research and joint development. 62 million dollars for the supply of the short-range defense system Iron Dome. 150 million dollars supplying the medium-range defense system David's Sling. 120 million dollars for the procurement of the long-range defense system Arrow-3. Ten million dollars, finally, as additional funds for anti-tunnel cooperation.
The 600 million dollars are not included in the US-Israel military assistance program last September. The current memorandum, set at 3,1 billion dollars a year, will expire in the 2018. It is the largest foreign military assistance agreement ever signed in US history. Starting with the 2019 fiscal year, the United States will guarantee funding for 3,8 billion dollars a year. The new MOU, Memorandum Of Understanding, will expire in the 2028.
Israel asked for military aid with budget adjusted to 4,5 billion dollars a year. The 38 billions of dollars will be divided as follows: 33 billions in military supplies and the remaining five for missile defense.
Until the 2018, Israel's entire defense missile asset will be funded separately by Congress on an annual basis. The United States has jointly developed or financed all three of Israel's missile defense levels: Iron Dome (short range), David's Sling (medium range) ed Arrow (long range) for a total expenditure of over 600 million dollars.
In the new military assistance program, Israel will be forced to reinvest the sums obtained in American industry. Therefore, the possibility (in effect until 2018) of spending part of the sums obtained by the US in Israeli industries has been canceled.
(photo: US DoD)
