U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler says Israeli systems ‘fill critical gaps in force protection’.
By Hezy Laing
Israeli defense technology has become a central component in protecting U.S. troops both at home and overseas, a partnership highlighted in AIPAC’s recent video “How Israeli Tech Is Helping Protect U.S. Troops,” and reinforced by years of joint development between the Pentagon and Israel’s Ministry of Defense.
One of the most significant systems is the Iron Dome, co‑developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon Technologies, which the U.S. Army acquired in 2020 and deployed to Fort Bliss and Joint Base Lewis‑McChord.
Iron Dome has intercepted more than 5,000 rockets in Israel with a success rate consistently above 90 percent, and U.S. evaluations confirmed its ability to defend American bases against cruise missiles, UAVs, and short‑range threats.
In 2023, the U.S. Army activated 1st Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, the first American unit trained to operate Iron Dome, with Israeli instructors from Rafael and the IDF Air Defense Command participating in the certification process.
Another major contribution is the Trophy Active Protection System, developed by Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries, which the U.S. Army installed on M1A2 Abrams tanks of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
Trophy has logged more than 1,500 live‑fire tests and over 500,000 operational hours, and U.S. commanders in Europe reported that it reduced vulnerability to anti‑tank missiles by more than 60 percent during forward deployments.
Israeli cyber‑defense tools, including systems derived from Unit 8200 technologies, are used by U.S. Cyber Command and the Defense Information Systems Agency to protect American networks from ransomware, Iranian intrusion attempts, and GPS‑spoofing attacks targeting overseas bases.
The Elbit Systems “SkyStriker” loitering munition and the Hermes 450 UAV platform have been integrated into U.S. Special Operations Command training cycles, providing real‑time ISR support for deployments in the Middle East and Africa.
At home, U.S. police departments and National Guard units use Israeli‑developed ShotSpotter acoustic detection, thermal‑imaging helmets, and border‑surveillance towers originally designed for the IDF’s Gaza Division.
These technologies save American lives, a point echoed by U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, who stated that Israeli systems “fill critical gaps in force protection.”
As global threats evolve, the U.S.–Israel defense partnership continues to expand, ensuring that American troops benefit from some of the most advanced protective technologies in the world.
