U.S. deploys radar system at Israel base to detect Iran missiles

[Scurrilous]

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"The U.S. Army's European Command deployed an early-warning radar system in Israel last week along with a 120-member support team, the weekly Defense News reported.

The move marks the first permanent presence in Israel of American military personnel. The high-powered radar system is meant to augment Israel's defenses against Iranian ground-to-ground missiles.

According to Defense News, more than a dozen transport aircraft delivered the radar, its ancillary systems, equipment and technicians, as well as maintenance and security specialists to the Nevatim Air Force Base in the Negev. It has not yet been made operational.

The same system has been deployed for the past two years in Japan against possible missile launches from North Korea. The agreement to provide Israel with the system a few months ago was finalized during the visit by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi in Washington in July."

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[Scurrilous]

1. Defense Department Looks to Sell Joint Strike Fighters to Israel

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"The U.S. Defense Department formally notified Congress that it wants to sell Israel as many as 75 of the latest model fighter jet, which is still being developed under a contract led by Lockheed Martin Corp.

A sale could be worth as much as $15 billion. It would mark the first order from outside the original team of countries working on the F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter.

The aircraft is designed to replace an array of fighter and attack jets in the American arsenal. Many foreign buyers use those same planes and are also seeking to upgrade. Lockheed is the lead contractor and the engines for the jets will come from either United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney unit or General Electric Co.

According to the Pentagon, the F-35 program will cost almost $300 billion to develop and buy approximately 2,400 planes, including different versions of the aircraft for the Air Force, Navy and Marines.

Israel has indicated that it wants at least 25 jets based on the Air Force version. It may buy another 50 jets, which could include a model being developed for the Marines that is capable of short takeoffs and landing vertically. The deal includes spare parts and services."

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[Scurrilous]

2. Israelis Wary of a US Radar Base in the Negev

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"When a contingent of U.S. soldiers opens a radar facility on a mountaintop in the Negev desert next month, Israel will for the first time in its 60-year history have a permanent foreign military base on its soil. And despite the early warning that the American radar would provide if Iran launches a missile attack on Israel, some senior Israeli officials are nonetheless wary about its presence. Complained one top official, "It's a like a pair of golden handcuffs on Israel."

From its mountain perch in Har Keren, the U.S. radar will be able to monitor the take-off of any aircraft or missile up to 1,500 miles away — giving Israel a vital extra 60-70 seconds to react if Iran fired a missile, Israeli military sources told TIME. Israel has its own radar system trained on Iran, but it's range is much shorter. Still, some see several drawbacks for Israel in the radar, and blame Defense Minister Ehud Barak for requesting its deployment in Israel without consulting anyone other than his chief of staff. Some in the upper echelons of the Israeli Defense Force fear that although the radar will enhance Israel's protection against Iran, it may also open up Israel's own military secrets to the Americans.

The radar will allow the U.S. to keep a close watch on anything moving in Israeli skies, "even a bee", says one top Israeli official who asked not to be identified. The U.S. may be a close ally, but Israel nonetheless has aviation secrets it would rather not share. "Even a husband and wife have a few things they'd like to keep from each other," explains this source. "Now we're standing without our clothes on in front of America."

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[azurnoir]

3. The subtext here

"Even a husband and wife have a few things they'd like to keep from each other," explains this source. "Now we're standing without our clothes on in front of America."

I suppose being "naked" could lead to embarrassing questions such as "dear how did you get those scratch marks on your heine"?

Asked in the same spirit as the quote