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The U.S.-Israel Arrow II missile interceptor destroyed a Scud missile in a July 29 test over the Pacific Ocean.
The test, the first of a missile defense system against an actual Scud missile, was conducted at the U.S. Navy’s Point Mugu test range in California. It marked the 12th test of the missile itself and the seventh of the integrated Arrow fire control radar and battle management system.
In a July 29 announcement, Israel’s Ministry of Defense said the test aimed to demonstrate the Arrow system’s improved performance against “a target that represents a threat to Israel.” It noted that such a test could not have been conducted in Israel due to field safety restrictions. “The target trajectory demonstrated an operational scenario and all the Arrow system components performed successfully in their full operational configuration.”
Israel Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the test demonstrated Israel’s ability “to defend against countries ... that are continuing their efforts to acquire nonconventional capabilities along with long-range launch capabilities.” He was referring specifically to Iran’s Shihab-3 and other longer-range missiles under development in Tehran.
“We are in an age of uncertainty,” Mofaz added in a July 29 statement. “The Arrow is the best missile system of its kind in the world, and represents a force multiplier for our future force. No less important is the deterrent effect it provides for the state of Israel.”
Amos Yaron, director-general of the Ministry of Defense, said U.S. and Israeli program officials had been planning such a test for some time as part of continuing bilateral efforts to ensure that the increasingly capable Arrow could operate effectively with other U.S.-developed missile defense systems.
The jointly funded and managed Arrow missile program began in 1986, while parallel Israeli-funded efforts to develop an indigenous fire control radar, battle management system and other system elements began in the late 1980s. The complete Arrow Weapon System was fully deployed prior to the beginning of U.S.-led combat operations in Iraq in March 2003.
The test, the first of a missile defense system against an actual Scud missile, was conducted at the U.S. Navy’s Point Mugu test range in California. It marked the 12th test of the missile itself and the seventh of the integrated Arrow fire control radar and battle management system.
In a July 29 announcement, Israel’s Ministry of Defense said the test aimed to demonstrate the Arrow system’s improved performance against “a target that represents a threat to Israel.” It noted that such a test could not have been conducted in Israel due to field safety restrictions. “The target trajectory demonstrated an operational scenario and all the Arrow system components performed successfully in their full operational configuration.”
Israel Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the test demonstrated Israel’s ability “to defend against countries ... that are continuing their efforts to acquire nonconventional capabilities along with long-range launch capabilities.” He was referring specifically to Iran’s Shihab-3 and other longer-range missiles under development in Tehran.
“We are in an age of uncertainty,” Mofaz added in a July 29 statement. “The Arrow is the best missile system of its kind in the world, and represents a force multiplier for our future force. No less important is the deterrent effect it provides for the state of Israel.”
Amos Yaron, director-general of the Ministry of Defense, said U.S. and Israeli program officials had been planning such a test for some time as part of continuing bilateral efforts to ensure that the increasingly capable Arrow could operate effectively with other U.S.-developed missile defense systems.
The jointly funded and managed Arrow missile program began in 1986, while parallel Israeli-funded efforts to develop an indigenous fire control radar, battle management system and other system elements began in the late 1980s. The complete Arrow Weapon System was fully deployed prior to the beginning of U.S.-led combat operations in Iraq in March 2003.