RAKSHA ANIRVEDA
GEOPOLITICS: WEST ASIA
ISRAEL COUNTERS IRAN’S SURGE IN BALLISTIC MISSILE ARSENAL Israel has begun its counter-efforts of anti-missile defense system and introduced Arrow-3, the most advanced version of the Arrow ballistic missile interceptor, into the service in response to Iranian efforts towards ballistic missiles arsenal upgrade By ARIE EGOZI
T
EL AVIV. Iran has stepped up efforts to upgrade its ballistic missiles arsenal – this is to achieve greater range, accuracy and lethality. The latest development forced Israel to make an effort to improve the efficiency of its multi layered rocket and ballistic missile defence system. The Israeli Arrow-3, the most advanced version of the Arrow ballistic missile interceptor, is now being introduced into service.
Arrow-3 fly out test
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This was inducted into the service after this missile successfully completed a 10-day series of tests in Alaska, in which it intercepted by hard kill, three targets simulating ballistic missiles in different trajectory scenarios. The very complex series of tests was performed jointly by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), in the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD), together with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The Arrow-3 weapon system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is designed to intercept expo-atmospheric ballistic missiles. For Israel protection against ballistic threats is not just a theoretical issue. Notably, at 2.40 AM on March 17, 2017, the officer in front of the radar display of an
Israeli Air Force (IAF) Arrow-2 anti-ballistic missile battery saw suspicious blips on the screen in front of him. There was no time for further consideration and a second later, an Arrow-2 missile was launched from its canister. Seconds later loud explosions were heard in Eastern Israel near the border with Jordan. Minutes before the sequence of events began, IAF fighter jets attacked a convoy that carried advanced weapons made in Iran, and was in Syrian territory on its way to the Hezbollah terror organization in Lebanon. When the fighter aircraft were on their way back to base, a Syrian unit launched a Russian made SA-5 surface to air missile that missed the Israeli aircraft. But the big heavy missile continued its trajectory with a projected hit point inside Israeli territory. The Arrow-2 operator had a few seconds. The Israeli interceptor hit the Syrian missile armed with a 200 kg warhead. It exploded over Jordan. This was the first operational intercept by an Arrow-2 anti-ballistic missile. The Arrow batteries are interconnected to one command centre which can decide what battery or rather what launcher will achieve the best results after an incoming missile is detected by the “Green Pine” phased array radar and its advanced versions like the “Super Green Pine” (SGP). Detection is also performed by the Americans, who have one
10/12/2020 7:36:46 AM
