US and Israel Agree on Funding of Arrow 3 Interceptor

08:19 GMT, July 27, 2010 defpro.com | On Sunday, Israeli and US officials in Tel Aviv signed an agreement on funding the co-operative development and production of the Arrow 3 ballistic missile defence system. In accordance with this bilateral framework, signed by Brig. Gen. Ofir Shoham, the head of the Israeli defense ministry’s MAFAT Research and Development Directorate, and Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly, the head of the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the development of the high-altitude interceptor is to be fully funded by the US and will be integrated into Israel’s missile defence system.

The agreement will disperse Israeli concerns that the US would end or significantly reduce funding of the Arrow programme due to necessary cuts to the US defence budget. The co-operation, involving the Israeli Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the MDA, as well as an industrial team from both nations, is expected to cost an additional $100 million and provide an operational Arrow 3 missile defence system by 2012/13.

According to the Israeli MoD, “The Arrow 3 will make it possible for Israel to intercept long-range ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction from outside the atmosphere.” The official ministry statement further explains that the system will complete Israel’s anti-missile multi-layered capacity, which includes the Iron Dome, the David’s Sling, and the previously developed Arrow missile systems.

In light of the potential threat of a ballistic missile attack by Iran, including the use of weapons of mass destruction, the US and Israel have jointly pushed the development of missile defence systems. The new Arrow version, though being smaller and lighter than the Arrow 2, will surpass the range and ceiling of Arrow systems currently in service with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). It is expected to be able to intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes of approximately 100 kilometres. While the delivery of the Arrow 2 to the Israeli Air Force is nearing completion, the development of the third version of this missile family presses ahead with a first launch being planned for 2011.


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By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor