The first interceptors of the Arrow 3 missile defense system which were delivered to the Air Force (IAF) last week, entered Israel to a new era in air defense.
After years of R&D, the Defense Ministry’s Weapons and Technological Infrastructure Development Administration and the US Missile Defense Agency delivered the first new Arrow 3 advanced air defense system interceptors. The IAF will begin the process of integrating the system so it can become operational immediately.
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Arrow 3, which was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) together with the US Missile Defense Agencyand Boeing , is in the upper tier, and provides Israel with new capabilities in intercepting ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads capable of leaving the earth’s outer space before making their descent toward their target. When Arrow 3 interception blasts you will hear no boom and see no smoke.
The advantage of the Arrow 3 is also by preventing complications caused by poisonous and hazardous fallout liable to be emitted following the explosion.
If the first Arrow 3 interceptor fired misses its target missile, and that can happen, the interception officer at one of the Arrow 3 batteries will have enough time to launch another Arrow 3 interceptor at the missile threat.
Even if interception does not take place, Arrow 2 interceptors, which have undergone a series of upgrades since being made operational, will also be directed at the target missile. The Arrow 2 Block 4 missiles currently possessed by the air force are extremely advanced and up-to-date.
Arrow 3 joins Israel’s three-tiered air defense system: the Iron Dome, which is capable of intercepting short-range rockets; David’s Sling, currently in an advance stage of integration ahead of becoming operational is used against heavy medium-range rockets and drones; Arrow 2, which is capable of shooting down long-range ballistic missiles.
As part of the process of making the system operational, its developers are expected to conduct further testing for Arrow 3 in the coming year.
“We’re entering a new era today, the Arrow 3 Era,” said Moshe Patel, who leads the missile defense projects in the Defense Ministry’s Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure.
“Today, we delivered an initial Arrow 3 system to the IAF, which has defense and interception capabilities much superior and far-reaching than we’ve known thus far,” Patel continued. Arrow 3 allows—with a far better technological capabilities—to have a more significant window of interception and provides better protection to the State of Israel against long-range missiles.”
The commander of aerial defense, Brig. Gen. Zvika Yachimovich, said “I am confident this system—along with the other existing systems and those that will be integrated in the future like David’s Sling—will provide us with a more effective and significant capability to defend the State of Israel.”
Boaz Levy of the IAI said, “We’re delivering an arms system to the IAF that includes several interceptors, radar, and a control and command system that knows how to intercept the various threats, in different altitudes, both inside the atmosphere and outside of it.”
