Israel, US test ballistic missile defense system

Israel’s Defense Ministry and the US Missile Defense Agency conducted a joint test of the updated Arrow 2 missile defense system, the Defense Ministry Spokesperson said Wednesday night.“The Israel Ministry of Defense and the US Missile Defense Organization have recently conducted a pre-planned flight test of the Arrow weapon system using an Arrow 2 interceptor,” the spokesperson said.

According to the ministry, the test was conducted Wednesday, August 12, at 11:45 p.m. Israel time.

The system reportedly successfully intercepted a long-range surface-to-surface missile (SSM) with an offensive warhead.

The test was led by Israel Aerospace Industries and conducted at a site located in central Israel.

“Throughout the test, the Arrow-2 system successfully engaged a Sparrow target missile, which simulates a long-range surface-to-surface missile,” the ministry said. “The campaign was conducted in accordance to the defense establishment’s plans.”

Following the test, Alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that “Israel must face challenges both near and far, and our ‘elite technological unit’ led by the Directorate of Defense Research and Development, Israel Aerospace Industries and additional defense industries, ensures that we will always be one step ahead of our enemies, and that we will defend Israeli skies from any threat.”

The joint Israeli-American test “reflects the partnership and friendship between the two countries as well as the deep commitment of the United States to the safety of the citizens of Israel,” Gantz continued. “We will continue to work together to strengthen the capabilities of the defense establishment in the air, land and sea, as well as in cyberspace.”The Arrow 2 test joins a series of successful tests of the Arrow 3 conducted by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (in Alaska last year, helping Israel face its future threats more effectively.The companies that participated in the creation of Arrow 2 are Elta, which created the radar system, and Elbit, which created the launch system. In addition, Tomer, the national rocket propulsion systems production company, Rafael, which created the interceptors and some other parts of the system, and Boeing, all participated in the creation of the Arrow 2, the Defense Ministry said.According to the spokesperson, Arrow 2 is an integral element of Israel’s four-layer missile-defense system, consisting of the Iron Dome, which intercepts close-range rockets, David’s Sling, which intercepts medium-range ballistic missiles and aircraft, as well as the anti-ballistic Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems.Source: The Jesrusalem Post

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