The World - News from Jan. 1, 1988

The United States has agreed to assume major research costs on Israel’s proposed Arrow missile for defense against short-range tactical missiles, U.S. military officials said. During Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s recent visit to Washington, the two nations decided to share the research expense, with the United States paying 80% and Israel 20%, said Maj. Larry Icenogle, a Pentagon spokesman. The Defense Department’s Strategic Defense Initiative Office said the Arrow research program, now in the proposal and evaluation stage, might cost $125 million over 30 months. The Arrow, described as having a range of 33 miles, is being developed by Israel for destroying Soviet-model tactical missiles that might be targeted on Israel by Syria.