The US Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee has approved the transfer of $351 million to Israel for the Iron Dome missile defense system. The transfer comes as the IDF's Operation Protective Edge continues in Gaza to defend Israeli citizens from Hamas rocket fire. The total aid to Israel for missile defense approved this week by the US amounts to $621 million and includes the security budget that the US allocated to Israel for the fiscal year that begins in October - $549 million. RELATED ARTICLES IDF takes delivery of ninth Iron Dome battery Missile defense - the next layer Delivery of new Iron Domes speeded up Eight facts about Iron Dome "Iron Dome works," said Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, chairman of the subcommittee. Durbin stressed that the aid will also assist the IDF's R&D. A further $25 million will be used to find the development of a new rocket engine to replace the existing Russian engine, which according to Durbin "makes no sense" in light of the current tensions between the US and Russia. 1,000 rockets have so far been launched at Israel from Gaza during Operation Protective Edge, and a clear majority has been intercepted by Iron Dome. Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 17, 2014 © Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014
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