Israel Tests New Defense Missle

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 18:56:38 -0500

New York Times
JERUSALEM — Israel’s advanced Arrow 3 antiballistic missile system intercepted a target on Thursday in a region of space just outside the earth’s atmosphere in the first successful test of its kind, according to Defense Ministry officials.

The system, which is being jointly developed by the government-owned Israel Aerospace Industries and its subsidiaries and the American Boeing Company, is not yet operational.

But analysts described the interception as an important step in Israel’s effort to defend itself against the potential threat of ballistic missiles armed with nuclear and other nonconventional warheads from enemies like Iran.

Yair Ramati, the director of the Defense Ministry’s missile defense organization, said in a call with reporters about 90 minutes after the Arrow 3 interceptor missile was launched that the engagement of a ballistic missile target was “successful and accurate.”

The test was conducted with the United States Missile Defense Agency from an Israeli test range. The target was launched somewhere above the Mediterranean Sea.

The Arrow 3 is intended to be the top tier of Israel’s multilayered air defense system, which has received substantial funding from the United States. The Iron Dome system intercepts less sophisticated, shorter-range rockets like those fired into Israel from Gaza, while another system, David’s Sling, which is expected to become operational soon, is meant to intercept midrange missiles.

The Arrow 2 system intercepts ballistic missiles higher up, but is slower than the Arrow 3, which can also maneuver in space, Israeli officials have said.

An Arrow 3 test interception was aborted about a year ago because of a problem with the target. The Arrow 2 has been successful in live-fire tests, but has not yet been used in a real field of battle.

“One successful test still does not guarantee that the innovative system is already operational and can be deployed in battle conditions,” Ron Ben-Yishai, a military affairs analyst for Ynet, an Israeli news site, wrote on Thursday. “But we, the citizens of Israel, can sleep a bit easier today than last night,” he added.

Mr. Ben-Yishai also contended that the international agreement reached this year with Iran to curb its nuclear program, a deal that was strongly denounced by Israel’s leaders, had given Israel a kind of timeout of a few years during which it could more fully develop its defenses.

http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/12/12/israel-arrow-3-missile-test-orig-bb-vstan.cnn/video/playlists/military-technology/

High-tech missile explodes in space - CNN Video

Israel claims it has conducted a successful test of its Arrow-3 missile, which is capable of destroying targets in space.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Dec 13 at 2015 7:01 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 19:01:15 -0500

Hooah! Great video showcasing the interoperability with other missile defense systems already in place as well as affording the opportunity to be an offensive player striking satellites.....I like it and am glad we are on the same team CPT Private RallyPoint Member!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 13 at 2015 7:11 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 19:11:39 -0500

That is good news CPT Private RallyPoint Member I am glad to learn that Israel’s advanced Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile system intercepted a target on Thursday in a region of space just outside the earth’s atmosphere in the first successful test of its kind, according to Israel's Defense Ministry officials. in the mid-1990's I supported a USAF FMS task which focused on the Israel Air Force logistics system. During that time I had an opportunity to work with several IDF military members of the highest caliber. The short east to west boundary distance of Israel meant they had very little time to respond to any incoming missile or airplane. They had almost no areas which were not populated with civilians which provided very little opportunity to blast something out of the sky without collateral damage.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Dec 13 at 2015 7:27 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 19:27:50 -0500

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Iran: "Wait, what???"

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 14 at 2015 6:18 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 06:18:28 -0500

I'd probably like it better if the US hadn't footed the bill. Hopefully they shared the development technology with us. Sounds like an awesome weapon.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2015 12:38 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 12:38:20 -0500

Sounds an awful lot like THAAD. I wonder how closely related the two are.
Iran: "crap".