25.07.2010, 20:30
Zitat:Israel signs agreement on Arrow 3<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=182562">http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=182562</a><!-- m -->
Israel and the United States signed an agreement Sunday under which the Defense Ministry will receive the full funding for the development and production of the Arrow 3 ballistic missile defense system.
The agreement was signed in Tel Aviv by head of the MOD’s MAFAT Research and Development Directorate Brig.-Gen. Ofir Shoham and head of the US Missile Defense Agency Lt.-Gen. Patrick O’Reilly.
The development costs for the are expected to reach some $100 million and the Arrow 3 will likely become operational in 2012-2013.
Israel and the United States are also developing David’s Sling – a missile defense system for medium-range missile with a range between 70 and 250 kilometers. The Arrow 3 will be a longer-range version of the Arrow defense system currently in IDF operation. It will be capable of intercepting incoming enemy missiles at higher altitudes and farther away from Israel.
Meanwhile Sunday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak left for Washington DC for meetings with top administration officials. Defense officials said that the talks were the continuation of Israel’s ongoing strategic dialogue with the US and would include Iran, Hizbullah and the Palestinian peace process.
Barak will also discuss Israeli plans to purchase of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). America is pressuring Israel to make a decision on the aircraft. If the sale is authorized by Barak, Israel would become the first foreign customer to sign a contract to purchase the advanced stealth fighter jet