ISRAEL'S MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM'S POPULARITY GROWS

Cyprus, Israel reportedly in talks over Iron Dome sale

 

By  Uri Roodrigues Garcia and Dean Shmuel Elmas  

 

Israel Hayom

October 3, 2021

 

 

Israel's Iron Dome has been operational since 2011 and is one of the most sophisticated defense systems in the world

 

Cyprus is in advanced negotiations with Israel to purchase Iron Dome batteries, Greek news agency SIGMA reported this week. Cypriot officials are currently engaged in deliberations on how the system would help the divided island nation meet its security needs.

SIGMA also reported that Cyprus would purchase four warships from France, which together with the Iron Dome will be "a comprehensive response to the Turkish threat."

Turkish Cypriots in the northern part of the island claim to be a separate republic. Despite having virtually no international recognition, they have been able to hold on to the land for decades with the help of Ankara. Greek Cypriots, who are aligned with Greece, consider this to be a form of occupation.

The Iron Dome deal, if it materializes, could further undermine relations between Jerusalem and Ankara, which have been at loggerheads for many years stemming from geopolitical issues and Turkey's efforts, although the two countries have been aiming to repair ties.

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Czech Republic signs $627M deal for Israeli air-defense missile system

 

                                   SPYDER missile system 

 

The Czech Ministry of Defense signed a $627 million deal to purchase the Spyder surface-to-air missile system by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the ministry announced.

"I appreciate the willingness of the Israeli government to share with us a state-of-the-art defense system that will move our military towards 21st-century capabilities," said Czech Defense Minister Lubomir Metnar, according to a report by DefenseNews.

"Finally, we will get rid of our dependence on the Soviet Kub [systems] from the 1970s, which do not meet the current requirements for airspace protection," he said.

The Czech army reportedly plans to use the systems for at least 20 years; adding the cost of maintenance would make the total amount reach about $1 billion. The delivery of the Israeli system of four launchers is scheduled to be finished by 2026, said the ministry.

Rafael describes the Spyder system as a short- and long-range mobile air-defense system that can defend large areas against various threats, including aircraft, helicopters, bombers, cruise missiles, UAVs and stand-off weapons.