Israel's Ministry of Defense has conducted the third trial of the Arrow long range ballistic missile defense system together with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA). After examining the results of the trial, the system's engineers deemed it a success with the target missile destroyed hundreds of kilometers above the ground.
This is the Arrow 3 system's third trial to date. The last trial did not succeed due to a problem in the target missile rather than the Arrow 3 system itself.
The Israeli industries involved in development of the weapons system: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) unit Elta Systems, Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT), and Elisra Group. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. developed the target missile. US company Boeing is also involved in production of the missiles.
The test was part of devising an aerial defense for Israel against ballistic missiles, such as Iran's Shahav missile, which can be destroyed in space, and before re-entering the atmosphere. The Arrow system is a key element in Israel's multi-layered defense system.
Multi-layered defense
Israel's aerial defense system has four layers: Iron Dome, which intercepts medium-range rockets; Magic Wand (David's Sling), currently in development, which is designed to provide a solution for short-range rockets; Arrow 2, which has already been operational for a decade; and Arrow 3, which is still undergoing tests.
Interception tests of Arrow 3 are expected in the near future, in the hope that the tests will succeed and Arrow 3 will provide the final element in Israel's aerial defense system. When all the developments are completed, Israel should be better protected against missiles than any other country in the world.
Two months ago Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon met with his US counterpart Ash Carter to discuss US funding of the system's development from 2017 after the current US military aid package to Israel is renewed.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 10, 2015
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