America has iron dome system Ready if Ukraine requests to use it to defend itself against Russian missiles, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Commanding General Lt. Gen. Daniel Krebler told the Senate last week.
Meanwhile, Ukraine rebuked Israel for sending high-ranking foreign ministry diplomats to Moscow, saying on Monday that Jerusalem is “business as usual with Russian war criminals.”
At a meeting of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces regarding missile defense issues, Senator Angus King (I-ME) asked why iron Dome Has not been deployed in Ukraine.
developing iron dome
“We helped pay for it,” King said. “We sent something like $3 billion. For Israel to develop it… wouldn’t it be a very important resource for the Ukrainians as their major problem right now is missile defense?
The Iron Dome air and missile defense system was developed by the Israeli defense company Rafael, commissioned by the Israeli government, which initially funded its development and the deployment of the first two systems. The US has contributed $2.6 billion to the Iron Dome project since its deployment in 2011, allowing for the production of additional systems and interceptor missiles. Rafael and US-based Raytheon co-produce intercepting missiles for the US, which has two Iron Dome systems.
John Plumb, assistant secretary of defense for space policy, replied to King that the US was assisting Ukraine in its war effort with “things that we can supply from our own stock,” such as Patriot missile batteries.
“We have made significant investments in missile defense and encourage our allies to do the same,” Plumb said. “I am not aware of the Iron Dome system being offered to Ukraine.”
However, Kerbler said the US “has two Iron Dome batteries right now. One just completed new equipment training, fielding new equipment. It’s ready to be deployed. The other is just finishing up its new equipment training.
“So the military has a [Iron Dome battery] Available for deployment if we get a request for it,” said Karbler, from Ukraine.
Israel’s permission is needed
As the main producer of the Iron Dome system, Israel would have to allow the US to ship it to another country.
The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on whether Kerbler’s remarks indicated that Israel has given permission for the Iron Dome to be shipped to Ukraine.
Despite requests from Kiev, Israel has not provided defensive weapons to Ukraine. Jerusalem is generally said that, while it Opposition to RussiaAfter the invasion of Ukraine, he does not want to endanger himself mechanism of confrontation with Moscow, which allows the Israeli Air Force to attack Iranian targets near its northern border unimpeded by the Russian military, which maintains a presence in Syria. Israel has sent and contributed humanitarian aid and allowed the export of missile and drone attack warning systems to Ukraine.
The Iron Dome, in particular, has been the subject of mixed messages from Ukraine, with Ukrainian ambassador Yevgen Kornychuk saying last year that “we need the Iron Dome … which allows us to protect our civilian women and children from the shelling of Russian missiles”. will allow.” in our area. However, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov stated that “the Iron Dome does not protect against cruise and ballistic missiles.”
Apart from Iron Dome defending mostly against short-range rockets and artillery shells, there are only about 12 batteries in the world, about 10 in Israel – the Defense Ministry does not disclose the exact number – and two others in the US. The 10 in Israel do not actually cover the entire country and from time to time they are moved to different locations that are more likely to be attacked. Ukraine is 11 times the size of Israel, so much so that an Iron Dome battery would do little to protect the country.
A senior Ukrainian diplomatic official on Monday described Israel’s sharp criticism of Israel after a May 5 meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov with Foreign Ministry Deputy Director General for Strategic Affairs Joshua Zarka and Euro-Asia Deputy Director General Simona Halperin in Moscow. criticized.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the sides mainly discussed diplomacy related to the Iranian nuclear threat and the currently defunct Iran nuclear deal. Jerusalem confirmed that the meeting took place but would not give further details.
The senior official said Kiev was “deeply disappointed by the exchange of visits by Israel and Russia”. [foreign ministry] Officer while Russia is killing our citizens.
“We are being attacked by terrorists who are constantly supported by the Russia-Iran alliance, and yet, Israeli officials are doing business as usual with Russian war criminals,” the source said. “Israel has to decide whether it is part of the Western world and stands with Ukraine or whether it embraces the dark forces of the world. Neutrality is not an option.”
Ukraine’s senior diplomatic official said, “As a nation that is also attacked by terrorism funded by Iran, we expect that Israel will not be the only Western country with strong ties to Russia.”
The Foreign Ministry declined to respond to the Ukrainian comment.