Critics blast US shipment of fighter jets to Israel - Israel Unveils New Missile Defense System
Israel is the first country outside the US to get access to the F-35 warplane, the most expensive ever developed.
Israel received three F-35 stealth fighter jets from the United States at the weekend - a new generation of "near-invisible" planes that critics fear will free the country's hand to launch air strikes and spying operations against neighbouring states undetected.
In total, Israel has bought 50 F-35s from manufacturer Lockheed Martin, and claims it will have the first squadron combat-ready before the end of the year.
Israel is the first country outside the US to be allowed access to the warplane, said to be the most expensive ever developed.
The F-35's main selling point is its advanced stealth capabilities, reportedly allowing it to evade even the most sophisticated anti-aircraft missile systems. Lockheed describes the plane as "virtually invisible".
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/04/critics-blast-shipment-fighter-jets-israel-170426074948986.html
Israel Unveils Answer to Hamas and Hezbollah's Deadly Rockets: New Missile Defense System, David's Sling
Israel unveiled on Sunday its latest addition to its multilevel missile defense system with David's Sling, which is designed to intercept medium-range missiles.
The army announced on Sunday that the system is now fully operational. David's Sling, which was called in the past Magic Wand, is meant to fill a gap in Israel's rocket defense systems between Iron Dome, meant to intercept rockets from short range, and the Arrow system designed to shoot down complex, long-range ballistic threats.
The new system was welcomed into service with a ceremony at the Hatzor airbase in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Chief of Staff Gady Eisenkot.
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.780951
