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U.S., Israel to test missile defense systems
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- U.S. and Israeli forces Tuesday were to test a new and improved Patriot missile defense system, designed to protect Israel in the event of a missile attack, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman said. The tests were to take place in the Negev desert. The exercise, dubbed Juniper Cobra, is designed to determine how effective the Patriots, along with Israel's $2 billion Arrow missile defense system, would be in shooting down any incoming missiles. "What we are doing is testing the interoperability between the U.S. air defense units and the Israeli ... units to look at ... how they work together," said an American military official, who spoke ahead of the test on the condition of anonymity. The official said U.S. naval forces also would be incorporated into the exercise. U.S. and Israeli officials said the joint exercise takes place every other year and was not planned in response to ongoing tensions with Iraq. About 500 U.S. troops will take part in the exercise. Many of those troops as well as the Patriot batteries will remain in Israel, U.S. and Israeli sources said. During the Gulf War, Israel did not have the Arrow, and the U.S. Patriots proved to be a major disappointment, failing to prevent the Iraqi Scuds from hitting Israel. Two Israelis were killed in direct hits in those attacks. Seventy-two people died mostly from heart attacks due to war-related stress. Israel did not respond to the Iraqi attacks in 1991, but it is not making such promises this time. The United States is hoping to prevent any Israeli retaliation, fearing it could eliminate Arab support for military action against Iraq.
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