A warning has been issued that the multi-layered Golden Dome missile defense shield the US plans to develop could be ineffective against drone and cruise missile attacks if it does not include Israeli-made air defense systems.
A report prepared by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) argues that the project’s focus on expensive space-based systems could overlook short-range and frequently encountered threats.
Drones are the most urgent threat
The report’s author, Ari Cicurel, stressed that while long-range systems are necessary, the most urgent threat comes from short-range projectiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Pointing to drone flights frequently observed even in the skies over Washington D.C., Cicurel said this is the most widespread threat the US must address.
The JINSA report recommends integrating Israel’s Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, and Iron Beam systems into the lower layers of the Golden Dome shield. According to the report, Israeli-designed launchers are 58 to 88 percent cheaper than comparable US systems, interceptors are 19 to 97 percent cheaper, and radars are 32 to 87 percent cheaper.
Cost advantage and production capacity
Cicurel recalled that these systems were developed with Washington’s financial support and that 102 American companies across 34 states are involved in production. “We are essentially talking about finally using these systems, developed with American taxpayer money, for our own defense,” he said.
A Pentagon spokesperson stated that Golden Dome is being developed to counter a wide spectrum of threats, but did not give a clear answer to the question about purchasing Israeli systems like Iron Dome.
A May analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) revealed that the 20-year cost of a national missile defense system could reach approximately $1.2 trillion. The report also noted that recent conflicts with Iran have exposed vulnerabilities, such as the rapid depletion of stockpiles and strain on production lines, despite high interception rates.
Cicurel stated that neither the US nor Israeli defense industrial bases are equipped to meet the production volumes required by both countries. It is assessed that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Washington could push this integration issue to the top of the bilateral defense agenda.
