Israel unveils new missile interceptor system designed to shoot down missiles fired from Iran 

Israel unveils new missile interceptor system designed to shoot down missiles fired from Iran

  • Israel conducted the test overnight with the US Missile Defence Agency  
  • The Arrow-2 system is designed to repel missiles from Iran, Lebanon and Gaza  
  • Benny Gantz said the successful flight test was part of Israel’s technological effort that ‘ensures that we will always be one step ahead of our enemies’

Israel’s Defense Ministry said Thursday it conducted a successful test of the country’s advanced missile defence system against long-range ballistic attacks.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz said the successful flight test of the Arrow-2 interceptor was part of Israel’s technological effort that ‘ensures that we will always be one step ahead of our enemies.’

The test was conducted overnight in central Israel, jointly with the U.S. Missile Defence Agency.

Arrow-2 is part of the multi-layered system Israel has developed to defend against both short- and mid-range rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon, as well as Iran’s long-range missiles. 

Pictured: The missile interceptor after launch

Israel’s Arrow-2 missile interceptor is seen during a test of the system at a site in central Israel, according to Israel Missile Defense Organization in the Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency August 12, 2020

A test of Israel's Arrow-2 missile interceptor system is seen at a site in central Israel, according to Israel Missile Defense Organization in the Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency yesterday

A test of Israel’s Arrow-2 missile interceptor system is seen at a site in central Israel, according to Israel Missile Defense Organization in the Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency yesterday

It includes Iron Dome, David’s Sling and the Arrow-3 system – capable of defending against threats from outside the atmosphere.

Israel and the United States jointly tested Arrow-3 successfully last year in Alaska. The system was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and U.S. aviation giant Boeing and became operational in January 2017. 

The Arrow-2 has been in use even longer and has been deployed in recent years to counter Syrian missiles.

An image shows the impact of a Israel's Arrow-2 missile interceptor missile with a target missile during a test of the system at a site in central Israel yesterday

An image shows the impact of a Israel’s Arrow-2 missile interceptor missile with a target missile during a test of the system at a site in central Israel yesterday

Israel’s multi-layered aerial defence systems were designed to cope with a future war in which it is assumed Israel will be targeted with massive missile fire toward all parts of the country. 

The Arrow rocket system is designed to intercept the longest-range missiles, including outside the atmosphere.

Moshe Patel, who heads the Defence Ministry’s missile defence organisation, said Iran was the most natural threat but that Arrow could also cope with attacks from Iraq, Syria and elsewhere.



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