The Arrow-2, enhanced under the U.S.-financed Arrow System Improvement
Program, intercepted the Blue Sparrow air-to-air missile, produced by the
state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Officials said Black Sparrow
was meant to simulate Iran's Shihab-3 intermediate-range ballistic missile and
Syria's Scud D medium-range missile.
"The target missile visualized the future threat in several extremely
challenging characteristics," the ministry said. The target trajectory
visualized an operational scenario and all of the weapon's system assembles
performed in their operational form."
The ministry said Arrow's fire control radar tracked and acquired the
target missile. The radar sent data to the battle management command and
control, and the interceptor was fired.
Israel has deployed two Arrow-2 batteries and was working with the U.S.
Missile Defense Agency to expand the system's interception envelope. Under
ASIP, the Arrow would be capable to destroy incoming warheads, including
nuclear, at an altitude of more than 100 kilometers.
The latest test also demonstrated the capability of the Arrow's enhanced
Green Pine long-range detection radar, first tested in 2008. Both Arrow and
Green Pine were developed by the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries.
"The success of this project is not only an enormous accomplishment but
an important milestone in developing and improving the operational abilities
and provides a response to the ballistic missile threat that is only
increasing in the region," the ministry said.
IAI has been producing the Arrow interceptors in cooperation with the
U.S. firm Boeing. About 50 percent of the interceptor was produced in the
United States to qualify for American military assistance.
Israel has sought to enhance the Arrow to identify mock warheads and
track multi-stage incoming missiles. The Scud D was said to have a
separating warhead designed to frustrate missile defense systems.
"This is a substantial success and a challenging test facing the future
threats we might face in our region," IAI president Itzhak Nissan said.
