US representatives Mikie Sherrill (D-New Jersey) and Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) introduced on Monday the US-Israel Indirect Fire Protection Act of 2019, aimed at authorizing the secretary of the army to procure two Iron Dome short-range defense system batteries for the US military.
Manufactured by Israel's Raytheon and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Iron Dome is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to 70 kilometers (43 miles).
The US Marine Corps has expressed interest in acquiring the anti-missile defense system, which has a near-90% success rate, according to a report in the Marine Corps Times.
"Iron Dome is a proven defense system that will provide increased protection for our troops in the field," Sherrill said. "Access to this technology addresses critical gaps in our current capabilities. It is an important interim step as we invest in the future of our military, and I'm glad to join with Representative Wilson, my colleague on the Armed Services Committee, to introduce this bill."
AIPAC said it supports the measure.
At an April 2 hearing by the House Armed Services Committee, US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said, "The Iron Dome is a very capable system. It has basically a 100% track record in combat. We clearly need it to protect our formations."
This article is reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
