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On the heels of conducing a joint missile defense exercise – which simulated a response to an attack by the Islamic Republic, Syria, and Hezbollah – Israel and the U.S. will conduct another today. (Source)

As part of a biennial exercise between the two countries, this drill, also called Juniper Cobra, is dubbed the “largest-ever” simulated attack on Israel. Testing air defenses, the drill will assess Arrow, THAAD, Aegis, Patriot, and Hawk defense systems. News source Yediot Aharonot noted that the “working assumption upon which the exercise is based is that the United States, in the event of a war, will provide Israel with missile defence systems that will operate alongside” the Arrow II.

The Arrow II is part of Israel’s Iron Dome, an anti-rocket shield designed to defend Israel from Hamas and Hezbollah rockets and also serves as a major component in a multi-layered missile defense system.

 
>> The U.S. and Israel will engage in a joint missile defense exercise called Juniper Cobra next month, and the Jerusalem Post reports that the U.S. may leave the systems in place afterward. (Source)

Called the largest joint exercise between the two countries, the event will involve testing three ballistic missile defense systems. The Obama administration has turned its back on deploying missile defense shields to Poland and the Czech Republic, and it’s speculated that countries like Israel and Turkey will be alternative sites.

An Israeli defense minister said, “There is some sense in deploying additional systems [in Israel] since the US already has the X-Band radar in the Negev, storehouses with equipment and close cooperation with the IDF.”

>> Defense contractor Raytheon has developed the AN/SPY-5, a multitracking naval radar system that can search, detect, and track surface and air missiles.

Raytheon’s Charles “Tom” Bush said, “SPY-5 is an affordable, effective and reliable radar system that provides critical capabilities for naval forces around the globe. The radar delivers the capabilities of multiple radar systems to counter a broad range of threats in a single, cost-effective solution.” (Source)

In other Raytheon news, the U.S. Navy awarded the contractor a $151 million contract to make 186 Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles (ESSM) and a $210.3 million option to make 225 more missiles. (Source)

From the release:

“Deployed in the U.S. Navy and nine international fleets, ESSM defends the battlespace by delivering ship self-defense firepower against high-G maneuvering anti-ship cruise missiles as well as surface and low-velocity air threats.”

Finally, Raytheon has awarded a $55.7 million sub-contract to Intracom Defense Electronics, a Greek company, to make subsystems for launchers for Patriot air and missile defense systems. The projected completion date of the project is three and a half years. (Source)

 
Israel and the U.S. will hold three drills to test missile interceptor systems sometime this year, reportedly the largest and most complex military drills to date. (Source)

The Juniper Cobra exercise will include the Arrow II missile interceptor system, which Israel successfully test-fired last week. The system is designed to help the country defend against attacks from rogue states like Iran and Syria. Additionally, drills would test and improve the capacity of the U.S. to protect Israel if attacked.

Are these drills prompted by North Korea’s rocket launch?