Israel, U.S. Conduct Missile Defense Exercise

U.S. military personnel have joined their counterparts in Israel for missile defense exercises meant to integrate U.S. Patriot missiles with the jointly developed Arrow system, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Aug. 12, 2004).

Some 1,000 U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force personnel and a U.S. Navy Aegis cruiser were deployed to Israel for the “Juniper Cobra” exercises, said Maj. Gen. Harry Burchstead, the commander of the U.S. forces.

The integrated missile defense plan calls for the Arrow to intercept inbound missiles at high altitudes and the Patriot to provide cover below that, said Brig. Gen. Ilan Bitton, the commander of Israel’s air defense.

“Juniper Cobra” involves tests of U.S. troops’ deployment capabilities, simulated command and control drills and live fire exercises (Gavin Rabinowitz, Associated Press/Ha’aretz, April 5).

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