Successful trial of defense system "Arrow 3"

The Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Agency for missile defense carried out today (Monday) a first flight test for the new missile produced by the Israel Aerospace Industries, Arrow 3. The Ministry of Defense said that the experiment took place in a field experiment in central Israel, was succesful.

The Arrow 3 missile was designed to address long-range ballistic missiles and detonate them far away from Israel – while they are still in space. Thereby, according to development plans, it could also provide a solution for missiles carrying non-conventional warheads.

The Defense Ministry said this morning that "the first part of the experiment tested the capabilities and performance of the new system, which is considered an innovative and revolutionary family of interceptor missiles in the world. These capabilities will enable existing components of the Arrow system to deal more effectively with future threats to Israel."

The missile's development work is expected to continue in coming years. The program is led by the wall director of the Defense Ministry in the framework of research management, weapons development and technology infrastructure (MOD) and the main contractor of the program is IAI's MLM Division, in cooperation with Boeing co.

The experiment took place at around 8 am, at the Air Force experiments field Palmachim. According to a senior Defense Ministry official, about a minute after launch and after accumulating high altitude - the missile disconnected as planned from its first engine, and then cruised at an altitude of about 100 km, made a series of maneuvers in space, and then successfully followed a number of objects defined in advance. The experiment lasted about 6 minutes.

"All the goals of the experiment were obtained, without exception, and there is a complete success," the source said: "It did amazing tracks in space, and tracked objects - like stars marked in advance."

The new interceptor flight test was planned for the last autumn but was postponed by several months. The Defense Ministry explained the postponement of experiment with the wish to perform activities and further tests to ensure its success. American officials viewed the experiment, including representatives of Boeing and the Missile Defense Agency and its successful outcome should provide a boost for the project which will continue in the future until Arrow 3 will be declared an operational rocket.

Arrow 3 should be the fourth step in the multi-layered defense system constructed by the security system: Iron Dome, already operational and provides protection against short-range rockets; Magic Wand, which is supposed to intercept medium-range missiles and is being piloted; Arrow 2, already operational and is used to protect against surface missiles. When declared operational, Arrow 3 could improve missile interception capabilities that threaten Israel, while ensuring 'a second interception opportunity "- so that if one threatening missile misses the target far away from Israel, there will be enough time to send another interceptor missile towards it.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!