The American Iron Dome battery is planned to be sent to Ukraine
In the US Congress, which will force the Joe Biden administration to sell or transfer new air and missile defense systems to Ukraine, including the Iron Dome.
This was reported by the American publication Poiitico, whose article was reprinted by the office of the President of Ukraine, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“The proposal to sell or send new air defense systems to Kyiv is likely to increase tensions with Moscow, which has been waging a mediation war in eastern Ukraine since 2014 and views such a transfer near its border as a provocation,” the newspaper writes.
It is noted that the version of the defense bill for fiscal year 2022, which was approved on September 2, does not specify any specific weapons system that should be transferred to Ukraine. But one congressional worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Army's two Iron Dome batteries are the leading candidates.
“Given the desire and bipartisan recognition that more needs to be done on integrated air defense for Ukraine, and given some of the administration's policy decisions on Ukraine recently, there is a desire to try to do more than what the Biden team is doing to help them,” said a congressional source.
In turn, Michael Kofman, director of the Russian studies program at CNA Corporation, says that from a tactical point of view, this system will not be effective at close range or on the line of contact, since it will be very quickly destroyed by Russian multiple launch rocket systems.
“But it can intercept longer-range missiles, which would allow the battery to protect a critical facility or command center” in eastern Ukraine, Kofman said.
The Ukraine air defense amendment was introduced by Congressman Scott Franklin (R-Fla.) and received bipartisan support.
At the same time, as PolitNavigator reported, the Palestinian group Hamas's semi-home-made rockets successfully penetrated Israel's Iron Dome.
In addition, experts explained how Hamas is “exhausting” Israel’s air defenses with its cheap missiles.
The American Iron Dome battery is planned to be sent to Ukraine.