Major joint Israeli-American military drills will get underway in Israel on Sunday. The Juniper Cobra exercise will involve some 2,500 American soldiers and 2,000 Israeli troops, said Israeli radio. The maneuvers aim to improve military cooperation between Israel and the United States against regional threats and bolster long-term Israeli security. The drills are aimed at improving the preparedness of the military in deterring rocket threats through the use of anti-missile systems, such as the Iron Dome and Patriot. The exercises will last until mid-March. The Juniper Cobra exercises were first launched in 2001. The 2018 drills will mark the ninth time that they are held. The exercises are held once every two years. The 2016 drills saw the participation of some 3,200 soldiers from each of the Israeli and US armies.