An Arrow anti-ballistic missile successfully intercepted and destroyed a Scud missile yesterday during a joint United States-Israel test program off the California coast. All the Arrow system components performed successfully in their full operational configuration.
This was the twelfth Arrow intercept test, and the seventh test of the complete system. Its objectives were to demonstrate the Arrow's improved performance against an actual - not simulated - Israel-threatening target. The Scud was launched from a maritime platform, and its trajectory demonstrated an operational scenario - one that could not have been tested in Israel due to test-field safety restrictions.
The Arrow system consists of the "Green Pine" Fire control Radar (FCR), developed by ELTA systems; the "Citron Tree" Battle Management Center (BMC), developed by Tadiran Systems; and the "Hazelnut Tree" Launch Control Center (LCC), operational launcher and interceptors developed by MLM. Other components made by IAI, IMI and Rafael also participated in the test.
The Arrow System was developed jointly by Israel and the United States, and is managed by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) in close cooperation with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
Israel Aircraft Industries/MLM Division is the prime contractor for the Arrow Anti-Ballistic Missile System.
Israel announced afterwards that the success of this test "is an important step in proving the system's operational ability and its response to the existing and growing threat of ballistic missiles in our region." Israel also emphasized that the test highlights the co-operation between the U.S and Israeli governments in ballistic missile defense.
This was the twelfth Arrow intercept test, and the seventh test of the complete system. Its objectives were to demonstrate the Arrow's improved performance against an actual - not simulated - Israel-threatening target. The Scud was launched from a maritime platform, and its trajectory demonstrated an operational scenario - one that could not have been tested in Israel due to test-field safety restrictions.
The Arrow system consists of the "Green Pine" Fire control Radar (FCR), developed by ELTA systems; the "Citron Tree" Battle Management Center (BMC), developed by Tadiran Systems; and the "Hazelnut Tree" Launch Control Center (LCC), operational launcher and interceptors developed by MLM. Other components made by IAI, IMI and Rafael also participated in the test.
The Arrow System was developed jointly by Israel and the United States, and is managed by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) in close cooperation with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
Israel Aircraft Industries/MLM Division is the prime contractor for the Arrow Anti-Ballistic Missile System.
Israel announced afterwards that the success of this test "is an important step in proving the system's operational ability and its response to the existing and growing threat of ballistic missiles in our region." Israel also emphasized that the test highlights the co-operation between the U.S and Israeli governments in ballistic missile defense.