On February 6, the U.S. Army announced its plan to purchase several Israeli Iron Dome air defense systems to fulfill a short-term need for indirect fire defense. In an official statement, the U.S. Army said that the system would “protect deployed U.S. military service members against a wide variety of indirect fire threats and aerial threats,” likely focused on countering artillery rocket fires and UAVs. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also applauded the deal, calling it a “manifestation of the deepening of our steadfast alliance with the United States.” The Iron Dome is designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery as a part of Israel’s multi-tiered missile defense array, which also includes David’s Sling, Arrow 2, and Arrow 3.