U.S.-Israel Indirect Fire Protection Act of 2019

To authorize the Secretary of the Army to procure two Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system batteries, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the U.S.-Israel Indirect Fire Protection Act of 2019 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) On July 27, 2012, the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–150 22 U.S.C. 8601 to help the Government of Israel preserve its qualitative military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional political transformation provide Israel defense articles and services, to include air refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities, and specialized munitions (2) On December 19, 2014, the President signed into law the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–296 to continue to provide Israel with robust security assistance, including for the procurement of the Iron Dome Missile Defense System (3) In 2014, both governments signed a co-production agreement to produce Iron Dome’s components in the United States. (4) The United States has provided more than $1,400,000,000 to Israel for Iron Dome batteries, coproduction costs, and general maintenance. (5) More than 70 percent of the Iron Dome interceptor is manufactured in the United States. (6) The Iron Dome system is now a fielded, battle-tested capability in Israel with more than 1,700 confirmed air defense intercepts and provides a rapid approach to delivering air defense capabilities for the United States. (7) As outlined in the National Defense Strategy, the Army has critical capability gaps for cruise missile defense, as well as counter-unmanned aerial systems and counter-rocket, artillery, and mortars. (8) In October 2018, the Army reported to Congress that, The Iron Dome System has capability against cruise missiles, unmanned aircraft systems, and rocket, artillery, and mortar fire, provides the best value to the Army as an interim capability. (9) In February 2019, the Army Futures Command issued a statement noting an intent to procure a limited number of Iron Dome weapon systems to fill its short-term need for an interim Indirect Fire Protection Capability. (10) The Army reported to Congress that Iron Dome meets the Army’s modernization vision of rapid deployment of a mature and affordable weapon system. (11) Any delay in procuring the Iron Dome batteries for the Army jeopardizes the ability of the Army to field an initial capability in 2020 and creates continued risk to warfighters by leaving this identified critical capability gap unfulfilled. (12) At an April 2, 2019, hearing by the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, the Chief of Staff of the Army General Mark Milley stated, The Iron Dome is a very capable system. It has basically a 100 percent track record in combat. We clearly need it to protect our formations, and we are buying the two batteries. (13) Section 112 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 ( Public Law 115–232 (A) if the Secretary of Defense certifies the need for the Army to deploy an interim missile defense capability, the Secretary of the Army shall deploy at least two batteries to provide such capability not later than September 30, 2020, and an additional two batteries not later than September 30, 2023; and (B) to meet such deadlines for deployment, the Secretary of the Army may— (i) deploy such systems that require the least amount of development (ii) use any authority of the Secretary relating to acquisition, technology transfer, and personnel management that the Secretary considers appropriate, including rapid acquisition and rapid prototyping authorities, to resource and procure an interim missile defense capability. 3. Authority to procure Iron Dome batteries (a) Authority Pursuant to paragraph (3) of section 112(b) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 ( Public Law 115–232 (b) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $9,337,000 to the Secretary of the Army to carry out subsection (a).

Summary: U.S.-Israel Indirect Fire Protection Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the Department of the Army to procure two Iron Dome batteries by September 30, 2020, to deploy an interim missile defense capability and authorizes funds to carry out the procurement. Iron Dome is an Israeli short-range anti-rocket system.