Article Posted on : - May 28, 2010

A graphical presentation of the Arrow 3 missile. A Boeing photo

JERUSALEM (BNS): Israel is planning to test its new Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile system in early 2011.

The missile interceptor, which is at present being developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries and US’ Boeing, will be tested without the interception of a mock enemy missile, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The interception test will take place in 2012, the report said.

An advanced version of the Arrow 2 missile which has already been deployed in the Israeli Defence Forces, the Arrow 3 will have the capability to destroy an incoming target with an ‘exo-atmospheric kill vehicle’. The weapon will destroy targets at higher altitudes than its predecessors.

“The Arrow system can effectively counter all of the missile threats that exist in the region,” Inbal Kreiss, the Arrow 3 project manager at IAI, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The IAI official also said that modifications are being made into the Arrow missile launcher system so as to accommodate the slightly smaller Arrow 3 missile interceptor in it.

The Arrow family of anti-theater ballistic missiles (ATBMs) has been designed to detect, intercept and destroy incoming theater ballistic missiles (TBMs). The missiles use two-stage interceptor and can carry various types of warheads.