Arrow-3 ABM on its TEL. (Photo : IAI)
The Israeli Air Force declared initial operational capability of the Arrow-3 anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system on Jan. 18 even as Israeli intelligence reports confirmed the continuing presence of at least two Russian 9K720 Iskander short-range, nuclear capable ballistic missile systems at Russia's Hmeymin base in Latakia along the coast of Syria.
Latakia is less than 400 kilometers from Tel Aviv and Iskander has an operational range of 500 kilometers.
There is no reason for Russian nuclear capable missiles to be in Syria other than to threaten Israel and prevent any Israeli involvement in the Syrian Civil War, according to Israeli military analysts.
Arrow-3 is part of the joint US-Israel Arrow Weapon System (AWS). It was delivered to the Israeli Air Force on Jan. 18 in ceremonies attended by representatives from the Ministry of Defense and defense industry representatives, including prime contractor Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and its U.S. partner, the Boeing Company.
Representing the Pentagon was US Air Force Brig. Gen. William Cooley, program executive for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
Israeli Air Force Brig. Gen. Tzvika Haimovich, head of the Israeli Air Defense Force, said Arrow-3 now joins Arrow-2, David's Sling and Iron Dome in the multi-tiered network that protects Israel against a full spectrum of ballistic missiles and rocket threats.
Collectively, Israel's active defense network "brings us to another era in our ability to deal with incoming threats from the north, south, east and non-state actors," said Gen. Haimovich.
Arrow-3 is Israel's first line of defense against advanced, maneuvering missiles such as the Iranian Shihab-class ballistic missiles and Iskander. Arrow-3 is also an anti-satellite weapon and can intercept missiles in space.
"Today we're entering a new era; the Arrow-3 era," said Moshe Patel, head of the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO).
"We're very proud to deliver to the Israel Air Force the first initial capability of Arrow-3 ... [a program] we've worked on for the last 10 years, together with MDA and with a lot of help from the US Congress and the US administration."
In salvo scenarios, Arrow-3 will be able to shoot twice against a single target; assess for battle damage and, if needed, divert to other approaching threats.
Both Arrow-3 and Arrow-2 ABMs are supported by a common AWS, which includes the Super Green Pine radar by IAI's Elta Systems, and the Citron Tree Battle Management Center and Hazelnut Tree Launcher Control Center by Elbit Systems.
"Arrow-3 is the result of many years of development efforts, based on a solution for an additional level of air defense allowing missile interception at very high altitudes in space," said Boaz Levi, IAI's vice president and general manager of the firm's Systems, Missiles & Space Group, who has worked and managed the program from the beginning.
