The United States has become a leading defense client of Israel

Bill Gertz:

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy reported a sharp increase in Israeli military exports to the United States. In a report, the institute said Israeli defense and military exports to Washington increased by more than three-fold over the past 10 years.

The U.S. military has used Israeli-made unmanned aircraft systems in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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“Overall, the value of annual U.S. purchases of Israeli defense articles has increased steadily over the past decade, from less than a half billion dollars in the early 2000s to about $1.5 billion today,” said the report, “Israel: A Strategic Asset for the United States.”

In 2010, Israel reported defense exports of more than $7 billion. The institute report, authored by former U.S. officials Robert Blackwill and Walter Slocombe, said Israel has been supplying a range of ground and airborne systems and equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles, enhanced armor and air navigation and targeting pods.

“Among the Israeli developed defense equipment used by the U.S. military are short-range unmanned aircraft systems that have seen service in Iraq and Afghanistan; targeting pods on hundreds of Air Force, Navy, and Marine strike aircraft; a revolutionary helmet-mounted sight that is standard in nearly all frontline Air Force and Navy fighter aircraft; lifesaving armor installed in thousands of MRAP armored vehicles used in Iraq and Afghanistan; and a gun system for close-in defense of naval vessels against terrorist dinghies and small-boat swarms,” the report said.

The authors said defense and military cooperation between Israel and the United States have beem steadily improving despite political differences. The report cited plans for the largest joint military exercise, scheduled for the spring of 2012.

The report, which urged Congress and the administration to take Israel into account in U.S. strategic planning, said Washington would benefit from cyber defense cooperation with Israel. Blackwill and Slocombe said Israel has developed advanced information technology that could protect the United States from a major cyberattack.

“And if security concerns of both parties can be managed, Israel can become a major partner in efforts to exploit the military applications of cyberpower, in the same way that the two countries have established collaborative relationships in intelligence and counterterrorism,” the report said.