Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Friday welcomed a decision by the US to approve a budget of 205 million dollars to continue developing and equipping the Iron Dome missile defense system. "This is a significant strengthening of Israel's defense capability against missiles," he said.
US Congress approved in addition to continue funding Israeli projects such as "Arrow 2", "Arrow 3 "and " Magic Wand."
US President Barak Obama was expected to sign the approval of the United States annual budget in Congress later on Friday.
In February, a second order of Iron Dome rocket defense systems was being held up due to delays in the passing of the United States annual budget in Congress.
Sources in Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, developer of the Iron Dome, said they had been asked by the Defense Ministry to prepare a proposal for a number of new batteries to bolster the two delivered to the Israel Air Force last summer.
The IAF was supposed to have declared the system operational in January, but postponed a final test of the system. Each Iron Dome is designed to defend against rockets at a range of 4-70 kilometers and can protect an area of approximately 150 square miles.
A senior defense official said the procurement of additional batteries was being held up by delays in the passing of the 2011 federal budget in the US that is supposed to include a $205 million grant for Israel to use to buy the systems.