October 25, 2012 Jonatan Urich, IDF – defpro.com
Defense Minster Ehud Barak visited a U.S. Patriot battery, deployed as a part of the joint U.S.-Israeli exercise Austere Challenge 12
On Tuesday (October 23rd), Defense Minister Ehud Barak visited Mount Eitan where a U.S. Patriot battery has been deployed as a part of the joint exercise between U.S. and Israeli militaries entitled Austere Challenge 12.
The deployment of Patriot batteries is simply one part of the exercise, which is to date the largest air defense exercise conducted between the two armies. The exercise will also examine new and improved technologies that did not exist the last time the two nations held a joint air defense exercise.
The new systems Iron Dome and Magic Wand (David’s Sling) will participate in the exercise and be examined in real-time.
“This exercise is a testament to the deep cooperation between us and the U.S. military, between the air defense, and between the government and its people, we truly appreciate this collaboration,” said Mr. Barak, who also noted that the exercise “will help us effectively deal with threats if and when we are tested, whether they be nearby threats from rockets and missiles, heavy rockets and missiles at long-range.”
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