The United States is supplying Israel with a variety of weapons and military equipment to aid in its efforts against the Hamas militant group. The ongoing conflict, which has led to the loss of numerous lives on both sides, shows no signs of abating shortly.
Existing circumstances
Israeli forces have extended their presence into Gaza, with Israeli military aircraft targeting hundreds of Hamas sites on Sunday, October 29 as reported by the Israeli army. This marks the second phase of a conflict that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated has been ongoing for three weeks. UN Chief António Guterres has called for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries.
The assistance provided by the US military to Israel
In discussions held with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 10, President Joe Biden committed to providing further military assistance to Israel. This assistance would include ammunition and interceptors to replenish the “Iron Dome” defense system. Biden also reiterated his support for Israel and assured them of unwavering solidarity during the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Understanding Tamir Missiles
Following the October 7 attack, Israel received an early shipment of Tamir missiles, produced by the US-based RTX (formerly Raytheon) and the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The US military employs a comparable missile system known as SkyHunter missiles.
Tamir missiles are short-range interceptors designed to destroy rockets, artillery shells, and drones. It is the main component of the Iron Dome system, which is used by Israel for air defence. Tamir missile has a diameter of 160 mm, a length of 3 meters, and a weight of 90 kg. It has a high-explosive blast-fragmentation warhead that weighs 11 kg.
As reported by a media source, these missiles are utilised by the mobile Iron Dome system to detect and eliminate incoming aerial threats detected by radar. Each Tamir interceptor carries an estimated cost of $40,000, as indicated by Foreign Policy. The Iron Dome system boasts an approximately 90 percent success rate in intercepting such threats.
Tamir missiles are short-range interceptors designed to destroy rockets, artillery shells, and drones. It is the main component of the Iron Dome system, which is used by Israel for air defence. Tamir missile has a diameter of 160 mm, a length of 3 meters, and a weight of 90 kg. It has a high-explosive blast-fragmentation warhead that weighs 11 kg. It uses a command datalink and an onboard active radar seeker for guidance. It can reach a maximum speed of 700 m/s (2.2 Mach) and intercept targets at ranges of 4 to 70 km.
The US aid package for the Iron Dome system encompasses JDAM kits. These kits serve the purpose of enhancing the navigation systems of conventional, non-guided bombs, effectively transforming them into precision-guided munitions, often referred to as “smart bombs.”
JDAM stands for Joint Direct Attack Munition. It is a guidance kit that can be attached to conventional, unguided bombs to convert them into accurate, guided munitions. JDAM kits enhance the bomb’s ability to accurately hit a specific target by providing GPS-based guidance.
JDAM stands for Joint Direct Attack Munition. It is a guidance kit that can be attached to conventional, unguided bombs to convert them into accurate, guided munitions. JDAM kits enhance the bomb’s ability to accurately hit a specific target by providing GPS-based guidance
The initial delivery of weapons also included approximately 1,000 small-diameter precision-guided bombs. Each of these bombs has a weight of approximately 250 pounds and relies on a GPS navigation system for guidance, according to information from The New York Times.
Recent reports indicated that the United States planned to provide Israel with tens of thousands of artillery shells initially intended for Ukraine. Department of Defense officials clarified that these 155mm shells were originally designated for Israel but were relocated to Europe before the commencement of the Middle East conflict.
The precise quantity of weapons sent to Israel this month is not definitively known. Part of the initiative to assist Israel involves expediting the delivery of weapons and equipment that Israel had previously purchased from the United States.
The United States has deployed Navy warships, aircraft carriers, thousands of troops, and Air Force fighter jets to the region. This buildup aims to support Israel’s planning and intelligence operations without direct involvement in the conflict.
The precise quantity of weapons sent to Israel this month is not definitively known. Part of the initiative to assist Israel involves expediting the delivery of weapons and equipment that Israel had previously purchased from the United States
President Biden recently requested an additional $100 billion in funding from Congress to assist Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and enhance security along the US-Mexico border. Although some have raised concerns about bundling this aid, the majority of Congress is in favor of providing increased assistance to Israel.
Nonetheless, a small number of Republicans who are staunchly against providing further aid to Ukraine could create challenges in gaining approval for the funding package within the House of Representatives. The newly appointed House Speaker, Mike Johnson, has not disclosed his stance on the matter.
–The author of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political analyst based in Bengaluru. The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
