Israel successfully tests Arrow 3 missile defense system
After lessons learned from failed test a year ago, interceptor missile launched from the Palmachim Beach towards Sparrow target missile.
Yoav Zitun
Latest Update: 12.10.15, 10:01 /
Israel News
The Defense Ministry and the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) conducted a successful test of the Arrow 3 missile-defense system on Thursday morning.
The defense establishment is constantly working to upgrade the Iron Dome system to allow its batteries (which would number at 10 in the coming months) to handle several barrages at the same time, including larger rockets launched from different locations, as well as to cover a larger area.
The Arrow 3's radar system detected the Sparrow target missile fired by the Air Force and alerted the system's command center, which analyzed the information and planned the interceptor's trajectory.
The interceptor missile was then fired from the Palmachim Beach towards the sea,
successfully hitting the target and destroying it outside the earth's atmosphere.
The Arrow 3 interceptor launched from Palmachim beach (Photo: Avi Rokach)
The Arrow 3 missile defense system is being developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and its subsidiary Elta, the latter being in charge of the radar detection system. Elisra, a subsidiary of the Israeli company Elbit Systems, developed the Arrow 3's firing management system, while Israeli company Rafael developed the interceptor missile. The American company Boeing also helped develop and manufacture the Arrow 3.
A year ago, a similar test of the Arrow 3 failed, and Thursday morning's test was done after lessons were learned from the previous one.
Defense officials said the Arrow 3 failed to launch during the December 2014 test because it was not able to lock on the target so "a decision was made not to waste the interceptor missile."
Additional tests are planning for the Arrow 3 system in the future.
The Arrow 3 is the main component of Israel's multi-layered defense system that the Defense Ministry is developing in its Research and Development Agency Mafaat. The Arrow 3 is meant to provide the third layer of defense, the highest one, intercepting long-range missiles like the Iranian Shahab-3, which could target Israel from thousands of kilometers away.
The Arrow 3 interceptor launched from Palmachim beach (Photo: Avi Rokach)
The first layer of defense is the David's Sling system, the development of which and its introduction to the Air Force are scheduled to be completed within a year. David's Sling is meant to provide protection from medium-to-long-range missiles, alongside heavy rockets and "suicide drones."
The second layer of defense is the Iron Dome system, meant to protect from short-to-medium-range rockets.
In recent years, the Arrow 2 defense system has been protecting Israel's skies, alongside the Patriot missile system and the Iron Dome, the latter two have already proven themselves in stopping projectiles coming from the Gaza Strip and the northern border.
Whatever happened to David Sling?
@500
David's Sling is counterpart of PAC-3. Against SRBM and cruise missiles.
Arrow-3 is against MRBM and TBM intercepting them in space. Counterpart of THAAD.
Different systems. Davids sling is not for ballistic missiles.
Its for ballistic, but short range.
