BICOM

The US military deployed its most advanced missile defence system to Israel for the first time, US and Israeli military officials said on Monday.

The deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) anti-ballistic missile defence system, as part of a joint military exercise, is to “practice rapid deployment across the globe of complex systems, and to enhance cooperation with the IAF’s Air Defence Systems” the Israeli military said.

The US military said the decision to move the THAAD system to Israel was intended: “As a demonstration of the United States’ continued commitment to Israel’s regional security”.

The Israel Defence Forces spokesperson Lt-Gen Jonathan Conricus said: “The advantage from the Israeli point of view is that we have an opportunity to integrate it into our systems and simulate different scenarios”. The THAAD system will be deployed to Nevatim airbase in southern Israel and 200 US troops from the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defence Command (AAMDC), based at Fort Bliss, Texas, will take part in the joint exercise.

During the exercise THAAD will be added to the existing Israeli air defence systems against long-range ballistic missiles, which according to the Israeli military will give the army an “opportunity to practice its integration in the IAF Air Defence Array”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the arrival of the THAAD system as a sign of the US commitment to Israeli security. He said: “The American THAAD system is considered among the most advanced systems in the world, and together with our defence systems, we are stronger in dealing with threats, close or distant, emanating from all areas of the Middle East.”

Israel’s missile defence currently includes Iron Dome, which intercepts missiles and mortars such as Qassams and Katyushas with a range of up to 100km; David’s Sling, which intercepts medium range heavy payload missiles such as the Zelzal 2, Fateh 110 and Syrian M600 up to a 300km range; Arrow 2, which intercepts long-range ballistic missiles over 200km, such as Scuds or Iranian Shahab missiles; and Arrow 3, which intercepts long-range ballistic missiles more than 200km during the space flight portion of their trajectory.