Israel, US carry out successful test of Arrow-3 missile over Alaska

In face of Iran’s continued development of long-range missiles, Israel and the United States completed a series of tests of the new long-range Arrow-3 ballistic missile defense system in Alaska, including the successful interception of an “enemy” missile target.

The series of tests, which were held for the first time outside of Israel, were attended by Israel’s Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer and included the interception of high-altitude target missiles outside the atmosphere.

According to a statement released by Israel’s Ministry of Defense, the series of tests successfully demonstrated the missile’s hit-to-kill capability in high altitudes and outside the atmosphere. In the course of the series, an American AN/TPY2 radar was used, and successfully demonstrated operational connectivity between the Israeli and American systems.

Days after #Iran tested it’s Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile, #Israel has announced it successfully tested it’s Arrow 3 ballistic missile defense system in Alaska, including the successful interception of an “enemy” target. pic.twitter.com/9xY5QmVqIR

— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) July 28, 2019

“Over 10 years of development with challenges has brought us to this moment when the Arrow 3 weapons system is conducting a series of tests,” said Moshe Patel, director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization.

“The fact that the test took place in Alaska, tens of thousands of kilometers from the State of Israel, shows the ability of the Arrow 3 system to successfully withstand any threat. This is a joint and unique activity of the governments of the United States and Israel, which emphasizes the close and strategic cooperation between the countries in the field of missile defense,” he added.

Admiral Jon Hill, head of the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), said that “this successful series of tests represents a significant milestone in the development of the Arrow weapon system. Our American MDA team and industry partners are committed to helping the State of Israel upgrade its national missile defense capabilities in order to protect itself and the American forces deployed in the region from the growing threats.”

In March, Patel said that the test was to take place in Alaska because of the “limited ability” Israel had to shut down airspace from commercial airlines over the Mediterranean Sea for the test.

“Arrow 3 is too big for the state of Israel,” Patel told an audience at a panel discussion. “It is supposed to be good against nuclear threats that are coming from Iran. (But) we have limitations in our arena to conduct flight tests because of safety.”

In the exercise the system was tested against targets similar in behavior to advanced ballistic missiles being developed by Iran.

Israel and the United States remain concerned that Iran has continued to work on both its nuclear program as well as its ballistic missile program despite international criticism.

With rising tensions with the Islamic Republic, on Friday Tehran test-fired a Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile from the country’s south-eastern coastline along the Gulf of Oman before falling 1,000 km away in northern Iran.

Channel 13’s Barak Ravid first reported on Dermer’s visit to Alaska on Friday night and quoted unnamed Israeli officials as saying this was not a usual diplomatic visit to one of the US states, but rather a “much more important and even dramatic” trip.

According to the report, the visit was concerning an issue “at the core of the US-Israel security relationship” and has to deal with cooperation regarding the threat from Iran.

Israel last carried out a successful test of the Arrow in January.

The primary contractor for the integration and development of the Arrow Weapon System is IAI’s MALAM division which is responsible for the radar functions, along with Elbit Systems Elisra division which developed the firing management systems and IAI’s TAMAM division together with IMI and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems who jointly developed the interceptor. America’s Boeing is also a partner in the system.

Considered one of the world’s best interceptors due to its breakthrough technological capabilities, the Arrow 3 is a highly maneuverable system designed to provide ultimate air defense by intercepting ballistic missiles when they are still outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

In addition to the Arrow system, Israel’s air defenses currently include the Iron Dome, designed to shoot down short-range rockets, and the David’s Sling missile defense system designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets, as well as cruise missiles fired at ranges between 40 to 300km.

Herb Keinon contributed to this report.

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