US-Israel Drill Reduces Boots on Ground, Expands Simulation
By Barbara Opall-Rome, Defense News 3:54 p.m. EST February 10, 2016
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/land/2016/02/10/us-israel-drill-reduces-boots-ground-expands-simulation/80184000/

TEL AVIV — Extensive simulations rather than boots on the ground will
characterize this year’s Juniper Cobra (JC16), a biennial US-Israel air
defense drill that is kicking off here and will continue through the end of
the month.

Hundreds of US military personnel from US European Command (EUCOM) are
already here and hundreds more will join in the three-week event, which is
the smallest in years and heavily oriented toward simulated command post and
joint task force operations with the Israel Air Defense Force.

They will be supported by hundreds more US servicemen and women in the
United States, across Europe and on Aegis cruisers stationed in the
Mediterranean, sources from both countries said.

But despite Israel’s initial requests, the US will not forward-deploy a
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, Patriot PAC-3 or any
other intercepting systems for participation in the final two-day, live-fire
part of the drill.

Instead, US intercepting batteries will demonstrate their ability to
interoperate with Israeli anti-rocket and anti-missile systems through data
links connecting them to simulated operations taking place at the JC16
command center at Israel’s Hatzor Air Base near Ashdod.

“We understand the US is busy in all kinds of places in the world and is
also dealing with budget issues. But with technology that now allows
over-the-water connectivity, they suggested and we agreed to expand the
benefits of simulation while scaling back boots on the ground,” an Israeli
officer said.

All layers of Israel’s active defense network — the Arrow-2 anti-tactical
ballistic missile system, Patriot PAC-2 air defense batteries, Iron Dome and
the not-yet-operational David’s Sling Weapon System — will take part in
simulations against coordinated and sustained salvo attack from multiple
fronts.

They will be joined in simulated defensive battles by at least one
SM-3-equipped Aegis ship on high alert off Israel’s Mediterranean coast; a
THAAD battery providing simulated support from the US; and US Patriot PAC-3s
stationed in Europe.

In addition, all supporting elements from US and Israeli intercepting
systems, including the US AN/TPY-2 radar stationed here, the Israeli Super
Green Pine radar, and the Multi-Mission Radar controlling Iron Dome and
David’s Sling, will be connected via US-supplied Link 16 and fiber-optic
ground communications.

“It’s much more modest this year in terms of numbers and actual hardware,
but we’re confident JC16 will provide meaningful opportunity to expand on
the excellent cooperation we’ve built,” an Israeli reserve officer said.

As for the final live-fire portion of the drill, Israeli air defenders will
operate a single Iron Dome battery, with command-and-control support from
David’s Sling and Arrow.

US and Israeli public affairs officers declined to comment on the lack of US
forward-deployed intercepting batteries in this year’s drill or provide
additional details until a formal press event is held later this month.

They referred to a joint Feb. 6 statement that described JC16 as “part of
the routine training cycle designed to improve cooperation and
coordination.”

Such drills, according to the statement, “contribute to the IDF’s
qualitative military edge.”

Email: bopallrome@defensenews.com