Chetz 3 (Arrow 3), second flight test January 03, 2014.

Arrow-3 Interceptor Successfully Conducts Second Flyout

Israel successfully tests Arrow 3 ballistic missile interceptor.

Israel successfully tested the Arrow 3 missile interceptor system, meant to defend the country against long-range missiles, on Friday morning. This was the interceptor’s second successful test. It completed its flight plan in full, meeting every one of the experiment’s goals. 

The test fire was headed by the Administration for the Development of Weapons and the Technological Industry at the Israeli Defense Ministry, in collaboration with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency—a U.S. Defense Department division responsible for developing layered defenses against ballistic missiles.

“The development of these types of systems will allow Israel to deal with the threats we are facing and it will help the IDF mount a swift and decisive response, should one be necessary,” said Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon.

the Arrow-3 interceptor was launched at 8 a.m., and flew an exo-atmospheric trajectory through space, according to the test plan.

Yair Ramati, head of the ministry's Israel Missile Defence Organisation, told reporters that as part of the test, which was attended by U.S. officials, the interceptor jettisoned its booster and "the kill vehicle continued to fly in space (and) conducted various manoeuvres ... for a couple of minutes".

Israel predicts Arrow III could be deployed by next year. The Pentagon and Boeing are partners in the project run by state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

MISSILE SHIELD

Arrow is the long-range segment in Israel's three-tier missile shield. This also includes the successfully deployed "Iron Dome", which targets short-range rockets and mortar bombs favoured by Palestinian guerrillas in Gaza, and the mid-range "David's Sling", which is still under development. They can be deployed alongside U.S. counterpart systems like the Aegis.

In a Facebook posting, U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro called Friday's trial "another step forward in US-Israel cooperation in ballistic missile defence and ensuring Israel's security".

The United States and Israel have been jointly working on Arrow since 1988. Washington says helping Israel build up the capability to shoot down missiles staves off escalatory wars - or preemptive Israeli strikes - in the Middle East.

Israel also sees it as a means of weathering enemy missile salvoes while it brings its offensive capabilities to bear.

"Developing such systems will let Israel maintain routine life despite the threats facing us, and will assist the IDF (Israeli military) in prevailing in combat quickly and efficiently, if required," Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Twitter.

Israel is assumed to have the region's sole atomic arsenal, as well as delivery systems including long-range missiles, and has been bolstering defences as potential threats proliferate.

It worries about Iranian ballistic missiles, whose number it estimates at around 400 - especially given the possibility Tehran could eventually produce nuclear warheads for them. Iran, which denies seeking the bomb, is negotiating with world powers about curbing its disputed nuclear programme.