Israel has successfully intercepted an incoming missile with its Arrow 3 exoatmospheric hypersonic anti-ballistic missile. The interception was announced by the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Ministry of Defense on November 10, 2023. The Arrow 3 is a major component of Israel’s air defense system, which has been heavily invested in to protect the country from incoming threats.
The Arrow missile program was initiated in response to Arab states acquiring long-range surface-to-surface missiles. In 1986, the United States and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding to co-fund the program. The goal of the Arrow missile was to be more effective than the MM-104 Patriot missile and counter Soviet-made SS-1 Scud and SS-21 Scarab tactical ballistic missiles.
In 2008, the United States and Israel started developing the Arrow 3 to enhance the Israeli Air Defense Command. The objective was to have a kill ratio of 99%. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) collaborated with Boeing on the development of the Arrow 3, and preliminary tests began in 2011. The interceptor was deployed operationally on January 18, 2017.
The Arrow 3 is capable of traveling at hypersonic speeds, exceeding five times the speed of sound. It has an operational range of up to 2,400 km (1,500 mi) and can reach altitudes greater than 100 km (62 mi). This allows the Arrow 3 to engage threats beyond Earth’s atmosphere, as defined by NASA, the U.S. military, and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
The recent successful interception by the Arrow 3 was of a target launched towards Israel in the Red Sea region. This follows another interception by the Arrow 2 missile successor on October 31, 2023. The Arrow 2 intercepted a long-range ballistic missile launched at Israel by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. This was the first operational use of the Arrow 2 during a war and the first interception of a ground-to-ground ballistic missile. Additionally, since the interception occurred beyond Earth’s atmosphere, it is considered the first reported instance of space warfare.
Israel’s investment in its air defense system, particularly the Arrow missiles, has proven to be crucial in defending the country against incoming threats. The successful interceptions demonstrate the effectiveness of these advanced anti-ballistic missile systems in safeguarding Israeli airspace.
