Washington, DC -- Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard L. Berman (D-CA), House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO), House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Chairman Jim Langevin (D-RI), Armed Services Committee member Rep. Glenn Nye (D-VA), and Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY), issued the following statement in reaction to the Defense Department’s announcement regarding its intent to sign the David’s Sling Weapon System Project Agreement between the United States Department of Defense and the Ministry of Defense of the State of Israel:

“We congratulate the Department of Defense for launching the development of Israel’s David’s Sling Weapons System. As the Iranian-Syrian-Hezbollah missile threat continues to grow, we will continue to help Israel secure its territory from its determined enemies. The David’s Sling, paired with the Iron Dome rocket and missile defense system, will help our most important ally protect its borders from profound missile threats. Peace comes with security, and a secure Israel is an Israel that can take risks for peace.”

The United States and Israel entered into the U.S.-Israel Short-Range Ballistic Missile Defense System Project Agreement to develop the David’s Sling Weapon System (DSWS), an Israeli concept, pursuant to the Agreement between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Ministry of Defense of the State of Israel for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Projects. The DSWS concept consists of the “Stunner” interceptor, Launch Site Control, Multi-Mission Radar, Data Link System and a Battle Management Command, Control, and Communications System. When fully developed, the DSWS will be integrated into the Israeli missile defense system and will be interoperable with the U.S. ballistic missile defense weapon systems.

In May 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5327, the US-Israel Rocket and Missile Defense Cooperation and Support Act (introduced by Rep. Glenn Nye (D-VA)) which authorized assistance to support the deployment of Israel’s Iron Dome rocket and missile defense system. Since then, the Iron Dome system has proven effective in tests and is now deployed in the field protecting Israeli territory.

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