"Israel Extends Lease on Army's Iron Dome Batteries, Ensuring Continued Defense"

The US Army's two Iron Dome batteries, which were sent to Israel in response to attacks by Hamas, are on an 11-month lease with the possibility of extension. The deal was made under a foreign military sales case to quickly provide Israel with the batteries and missiles. The Army had concerns about integrating the Israeli-made batteries into its air defense architecture and opted for a different system for its own program. Meanwhile, the US Marines are moving forward with their own mobile air defense weapon based on Iron Dome components. Raytheon and Rafael have announced plans to establish a facility in Arkansas to produce the US version of the Iron Dome interceptor.