Global Security Newswire

The Israeli military needs $3.9 billion to complete work on its Arrow interceptor system, which is intended to protect the country from long-range ballistic missile strikes from enemies such as Iran, the Israeli website Globes reported on Wednesday (see GSN, Dec. 21, 2011).

The majority of the needed funds would come from the military account, which could be trimmed following a 2011 recommendation by a government-appointed committee that Jerusalem should provide more funds for social programs.

The $3.9 billion is required in order to purchase Arrow missile interceptors, long-range radar units and to prepare Israeli troops to operate the high-tech antimissile system.

A high-ranking Israeli military officer in an interview with Globes said the $3.9 billion is not sufficient funding to provide a comprehensive defense against missile threats. Rather, the money would "provide only a reasonable response to the rocket and missile threat in the arena between Iran and Gaza," the source said. "All of this is on top of the next multiyear defense budget."

"We'll need several thousand interceptor missies for the Iron Dome," the officer said, referring to the system designed to defend against rocket attacks. He estimated that Israel could also require hundreds of Arrow and Magic Wand missile interceptors (Yuval Azoulai, Globes, Jan. 4).