The old Arrow 2 interception system has received an upgrade that allows it to deal with long-range missiles from Iran inside and outside the atmosphere - even those carrying a nuclear warhead • Boaz Levy, IAI's VP: "It was a perfect experiment as written in the books - the moment of truth Arrow 2 destroyed The target missile "
Successful experiment for an interceptor system for long-range missiles Arrow 2, last night (Wednesday) Air Force Base in Palmachim. Arrow 2 interceptor missile performed a successful interception in the heart of the Mediterranean of a simulated surface-to-surface Shihab 3 Iranian surface-to-surface missile. The aim of the experiment was to adapt an Arrow 2 system to intercept the Shihab 3, which until now was supposed to be intercepted by Arrow 3.
Photo: Ministry of Defense spokeswoman
Defense Ministry Wall Manager Moshe Fattal: "Last night shortly before midnight a successful interception experiment was carried out on Arrow 2. This year we celebrated 20 years of Arrow 2 service in the Air Force. Arrow 2 underwent five significant upgrades. We are very proud of the experiment, during which a fast missile was fired. "And Arrow 2 intercepted it. The system has undergone software upgrades to deal with the evolving threat, and the detection and control system has also been upgraded."
Fattal explained that last night's experiment is in fact an additional protective layer over that of Arrow 3, which intercepts outside the atmosphere. "The target missile simulated a long-range missile that is the main threat to the State of Israel from the family of Shihab 3. When Arrow 3 intercepts outside the atmosphere, we want Arrow 2 to provide another option for interception."
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Fattal added: "This is a response to the multi-layered defense system "We have strong confidence in the system. We have tested both existing Air Force systems and development systems. This experiment is very important, because we need to address non-conventional missiles as well."
Boaz Levy, IAI's VP: “It was a perfect experiment. The missile was launched from the middle of the sea towards the State of Israel. All systems were operated by Air Force 'Defensive Sword' soldiers. The missile came out at just the right moment for the target, just as it is written in the books. At the right moment he activated a warhead that destroyed the target. In the moment of truth we knew the experiment was successful. There was a perfect interception. "
On the next missile in development, Arrow 4, Levy said: "Arrow 4 should address more future threats. We look to the next. We are always trying to anticipate the threat in generation. Arrow 2 is now able to intercept Shihab 3. Arrow 4 will know how to intercept future missiles. Arrow "He is at the level of research and development."
Fattal concluded: "This year we celebrated 20 years of the Arrow system, with 5 upgrades. In recent years we have focused on conducting Arrow 3 intercept experiments, culminating in an experiment last year in Alaska. At the same time, we continued to develop and improve Arrow 2 - despite its age. "An atmosphere with Arrow 2 operating in and out of the atmosphere is a response to long-range missiles. There was cooperation from Air Force and industry officers. The experiment involved all layers of defense, at sea and on land, with many things we saw in all systems, including linking to American systems."
