Israel, U.S. test integrated response to simulated missile attacks

Israel's defense ministry said Wednesday it has "successfully" completed a joint military drill with the U.S., linking missile defense systems of both countries in a simulation of missile attacks from Iran and Lebanon.

The so-called "Integrated Ground Test" was conducted over five days by Israel's Defense Ministry, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, and the United States European Command.

In the trial, which was completed on June 22, systems in Israel and the U.S. were synched to test a combined response to a missile attack on Israel, a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The drill included Israel's Arrow Weapons System, using Arrow-2 and Arrow-3, two anti-ballistic missile interceptors developed by the U.S. and Israel, and the David's Sling missile defense system, a U.S.-developed system which was recently delivered to the Israeli Air Force and participated in the drill as part of the process of becoming operational.

These systems were interoperated with the U.S. command and control elements, Aegis ships, Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot missile defense systems.

"The test validated the combined United States and Israel Missile Defense integrated architecture for the defense of Israel," the statement read.

"During the test, scenarios consisted of multiple missile and rocket attacks were simulated against Israel with both United States and Israel successfully employing, engaging and destroying the simulated incoming threats," the spokesperson said.

Israel's last round of war with the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, its arched enemy, ended in 2006, after some 4,000 Katyusha rockets fired by the Shiite organization slammed into northern Israel. Endit