Impressive operational success: The Arrow 3 system was activated for the first time and carried out its first interception tonight (Thursday) after a missile was launched from Yemen to Eilat. This comes after last week the Arrow 2 interceptor was activated for the first time and carried out a series of successful interceptions.
IDF Spokesperson: Arrow missile intercepts threat from Eilat // IDF Spokesperson
The IDF and the Ministry of Defense announced a successful operational interception of the Arrow 3 interceptor, the top layer of defense for the State of Israel. The interception was carried out in the Suf area, far from Israeli territory.
IAI CEO Boaz Levy: "This is a historic interception that strategically emphasizes Israel's multi-layered response to long-range ballistic threats.
"The Arrow system is the main defense component of the multi-layered defense system operated by the IAF against ballistic missiles, and it proves once again that the State of Israel has the technologies that enable a bullet to hit, high in space, and especially the people behind the systems - those who dreamed, initiated, planned and built the systems and those who operate them."
A successful experiment in the Arrow 3, photo: Ministry of Defense Spokesperson's Office,
This is the first operational interception using the Arrow 3 interceptor, which entered operational service in 2017. It joins the first operational interception of the Arrow 2 interceptor last week.
The Arrow 3 system, developed and manufactured jointly by the Homa Administration at the Israel Defense Authority and the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), led by IAI, is an advanced air defense system of its kind in the world for intercepting ballistic missiles in space, outside the atmosphere.
The Arrow 3 is an exo-atmospheric interceptor with long-range interception capability, at high altitudes above the atmosphere.
Houthi military parade in Yemen in September, photo: AP
Earlier today, Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari, IDF Spokesperson, said: "We activated a warning and alarm that an Arrow missile intercepted a threat far from the State of Israel, far from Eilat, aimed at Israel. We intercepted a surface-to-surface missile fired in our direction. The defense in the Eilat area and its area is good, we will investigate it, learn and learn lessons."
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