The Israel Ministry of Defense today conducted a successful test of the Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile system on a target missile. The Ministry of Defense said that the missile fired had performed its mission successfully.
US representatives taking part in the development of the aerial defense system participated in the trial, together with the Israeli industries involved in development of the weapons system: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1), Elta Systems, Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT), and Elisra Group. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. developed the target missile. US company Boeing is also involved in production of the missiles.
The test was part of devising an aerial defense for Israel against ballistic missiles, such as Iran's Shahav missile. The Arrow system is a key element in Israel's multi-layered defense system.
Multi-layered defense
Israel's aerial defense system has four layers: Iron Dome, which intercepts medium-range rockets; Magic Wand (David's Sling), currently in development, which is designed to provide a solution for short-range rockets; Arrow 2, which has already been operational for a decade; and Arrow 3, which is still undergoing tests.
Interception tests of Arrow 3 are expected in the near future, in the hope that the tests will succeed and Arrow 3 will provide the final element in Israel's aerial defense system. When all the developments are completed, Israel should be better protected against missiles than any other country in the world.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the Ministry of Defense on the successful test. "This is another step in the measures we're taking to protect Israeli citizens against the threats aimed at us," he said.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 16, 2014
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