Wednesday, February 15 2017 11:57

ArmInfo.Citing concerns about risks to U.S.  regional interests and the danger of weapons proliferation, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has  called upon the Department of State to oppose the third-party  transfer of sensitive U.S. equipment and technology as part of a  reported Israeli Iron Dome anti-missile system sale to Azerbaijan,  ANCA reports.

In a February 13th letter sent to the State Department Bureau of  Political-Military Affairs, the ANCA asked for formal U.S. opposition  to the Iron Dome Sale on the grounds that it would:  "undermine U.S.  interests by raising the risks of regional conflict, setting back the  cause of peace, and potentially allowing advanced weapons technology  to fall into the hands of anti-American powers."  Separately, the  ANCA has, under the Freedom of Information Act, requested any  official records related to the Iron Dome sale to Azerbaijan.

"In Ilham Aliyev's hands, Iron Dome is a first strike weapon," said  ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, "one that will only embolden  him to escalate his aggression."  He added: "Green- lighting this  sale would undermine all that America and our OSCE partners have done  to promote peace and prevent weapons proliferation, raising the very  real risk that advanced technology that will both destabilize the  Caucasus and potentially end up in the hands of anti-U.S. countries -  from Belarus to North Korea."

Reports began to surface regarding an impending sale of the Iron Dome  anti-missile system to Azerbaijan shortly following Israeli Prime  Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meetings with President Aliyev in  December, 2016.  Developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense  Systems with funding and technology from the United States, the  system is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and  artillery shells fired from distances of 2.5 to 43 miles away and  whose trajectory would take them to a populated area.  In 2014, U.S.  defense firm Raytheon won a $149.3 million co-production contract to  supply Tamir missiles for the Iron Dome system.  Under the terms of  the May 3, 2014, U.S.-Israel Iron Dome Procurement Agreement as well  as relevant provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act, the Arms Export  Control Act, and other U.S. laws, the U.S. has the right to block the  third-party transfer of U.S. equipment and information included in  the Iron Dome system.