Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel and the United States have completed the first
flight of the advanced Arrow-3 ballistic missile defense system.

Israel’s Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense
Agency reported the maiden flight of the Arrow-3 interceptor. In a joint
statement, Arrow-3 is said to have been launched on Feb. 25 and flew over
the Mediterranean Sea to determine flight pattern, speed and
maneuverability.

The two countries did not report any attempt at interception.

“The Arrow 3 interceptor was successfully launched and flew an
exo-atmospheric trajectory through space, in accordance with the test plan,” the statement said.

Arrow-3 marked an upgrade of the heritage Arrow interceptor, which was
not designed to fly above the atmosphere. Officials said Arrow-3 would be capable of destroying nuclear and other non-conventional missiles at an altitude that would prevent radiation fallout.

“The successful test is a major milestone in the development of the
Arrow-3 weapon system and provides further confidence in future Israeli
defense capabilities to defeat the developing ballistic missile threat,” the
statement said.

Officials said the Arrow-3 test had been delayed for nearly six months
for unspecified technical reasons. They said the six-minute flight would be
followed by other tests until the first interception was attempted.

Arrow-3 has been partially financed by the United States. The prime
contractor for the system has been the state-owned Israel Aerospace
Industries, with the U.S. firm Boeing assigned to produce major components.

Officials said Arrow-3 was expected to become operational by 2016. They
said the missile could counter any of Iran’s intermediate-range ballistic
missiles, particularly the solid-fuel Sejil and the liquid-fuel Shihab-3.

Israel has overseen the development of a multi-layered BMD network that
included Arrow-2, the new David’s Sling, the U.S.-origin PAC-2 and Iron
Dome. Officials said the network would be based on common battle management
and radar.

  Boeing, capable of destroying nuclear and other non-conventional missiles, Israel, Israel Aerospace Industries, Mediterranean Sea, U.S. report successful test flight through space of Arrow-3 interceptor