Australia considering buying Iron Dome missiles
Officials told a parliamentary committee Australia wants a ground-based missile defence system by the early 2030s, with Rafael interceptors in view
TIMES OF ISRAEL, AFP – Australia is considering purchasing missile interceptors developed for Israel’s Iron Dome as it seeks to rapidly build an air defence shield, officials say.
Citing rapid changes in warfare seen in Ukraine and the Middle East, defence officials told a parliamentary committee that Australia wants to have a ground-based missile defence system by the “early 2030s.”
Discussions are being held over the availability of the US Patriot missile defence system and interceptor missiles developed by Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defence Systems for the Iron Dome, recently used in a new US Marines system and jointly manufactured with US company Raytheon.
Truck-mounted medium-range interceptors were tested by the US Marines in the Pacific territory of Guam in June during a regional war game in which Australia also took part.
Australia does not supply weapons to Israel and its purchase of Israeli defence products has come under political scrutiny.
“The government will always seek to deliver the most suitable military technology,” government minister Murray Watt told the committee when asked about the matter.
It is unclear why Australia would be considering purchasing the Iron Dome’s Tamir interceptor missiles without the compatible system, which Israel does not offer for sale. The US-made Patriot, which is also being considered by Australia, does not use Tamir missiles.
Israeli defence officials have said that Israel will not sell the Iron Dome to nations other than the US, or allow other countries to use it independently, due to the sensitive and proprietary technologies that make it work, which may fall into enemy hands and could be used to beat the system.
In a rare move during the war with Iran earlier this year, Israel deployed an Iron Dome battery to the United Arab Emirates and sent several dozen Israeli troops to operate it.
A joint Rafael-Raytheon plant in Arkansas recently began manufacturing SkyHunter, a US version of the Tamir, for the proprietary Marine Corps’ Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) air defence system.