The Ministry of Defense announced on Friday that it has once again conducted a successful test of the Arrow Weapon System (AWS). The test examined the improved capabilities of the Arrow's new tracking system, using the Super Green Pine Radar developed by ELTA Industries. The Green Pine radar is an updated version of the radar that will be used in all missile systems throughout Israel. In the latest test, additional radar system capabilities were tested, some of which are operated by the US. The Ministry of Defense said that the test by Homa, which is spearheading the development of the Arrow missile, was jointly carried out by the Israel Missile Defense Organization and the US Missile Defense Agency.
The Block 4 System Verification Flight Test (B4SVFT), was a target-only tracking exercise. It did not include the launching of an interceptor missile, but was aimed at examining the radar system, whose function is to track threatening missiles towards which a missile would be launched in an effort to destroy it while it is in the air. During the test, the AWS Super Green Pine Fire Control Radar tracked a Blue Sparrow 2 target, representative of potential ballistic missile threats facing Israel, which was launched from an Air Force F-15 fighter aircraft. The radar transferred information to the Citron Tree Battle Management Controller, which prepared a simulated intercept solution. Theoretically, an Arrow 1 or Arrow 2 could have been launched towards the missile from Air Force batteries that were deployed a few years ago in Palmachim and in Ein Shemer. The Ministry of Defense said that the test will enable the accelerated delivery of the Block 4, which is the advanced version of the Arrow 2 for the Air Force's defense system.
The Ministry of Defense said that the latest test was planned in advance as part of an annual work plan. The inital test of Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.'s (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) new Arrow 3 missile, also part of the plan, will take place in the upcoming months, with the participation of the Boeing Company (NYSE: BA). The Arrow 3 missile will allow the interception of intercontinental ballistic missiles while they are still in space. The ability to intercept an attacking missile from a long distance, for example towards Israel, allows enough time to launch an additional missile in case the first one misses the target. The Arrow 3's first test will take place on an Air Force base in central Israel, but will not target an attacking missile. Instead, it will examine its flight characteristics according to a path that will be delineated in advance.
Arrow project chief Yair Ramati said, "This was an extremely important event. The target missile that was launched from the wing of an F-15, was shot from the Mediterranean Sea towards Israel." Ramati declined to say what at what range the radars identified the target missile, but did note that the new AWS Super Green Pine Fire Control Radar has a more powerful radar than Green Pine, and that it has improved capabilities over current radars, as well as improved detection and tracking capabilities from greater distances.
Ramati added, "A few seconds after the missile was launched, the entire Israeli missile system was able to track it, including Green Pine and the new radar, as well as the US radars. All radars succeeded in tracking the missile, analyzing its path, and performing additional analyses. We will present the processed data to the US on Tuesday."
Airspace and territorial waters were closed during the test, as is customary during such tests.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 12, 2012
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