Israel-Iran Conflict Live: Iran’s Unprecedented Attack Against Israel’s Arrow Defense Fails

Similar aerial attacks occurred last year when Hamas launched Operation ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ and conducted aerial and ground attacks. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated, “Dozens of surface-to-surface missile launches from Iran were identified approaching Israeli territory. The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted the majority of the launches using the Arrow Aerial Defense System, together with Israel’s strategic allies, before they crossed into Israeli territory.”

“We intercepted 99% of the threats launched to the territory of Israel. Development began in the late 1980s as a joint effort between Israel and the US. The Arrow 1 system’s technology demonstrator underwent at least seven flight tests in the 1990s and was further developed to form a lighter missile known as Arrow 2, which was inducted in 2000.

The induction of Arrow 2 missiles in the air defense arsenal gave Israel the capability to intercept short and medium-range missiles with its hit-and-kill approach in the upper atmosphere. The objective is to neutralize the incoming missile before its descent stage. Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the Arrow Defence System create a layered defence system.

The Iron Dome system, which has been battle-tested in the past, was actively deployed to intercept drones and short-range threats. Iron Dome has shot down thousands of rockets since 2011 but is limited to a short range. Israel also has a medium-to-long-range interceptor known as David’s Sling.

The slow-moving drones are meant “to confuse the radar systems in Israel and then make sure that the missiles that would follow the drones would hit their intended targets,” avoiding the “major humiliation” of all its projectiles being shot down, said Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group. The rocket has a two-stage solid-propellant booster enabling it to reach speeds of Mach 9 (nine times the speed of sound). The defence system consists of the missile launcher, the EL/M-2080 Green Pine fire control radar (FCR), a Hazelnut Tree Launch Control Center (LCC), and a Citron Tree battle management centre.

The Green Pine radar provides long-range target detection capability and can intercept multiple targets, allowing the missile to take on a maximum of 14 targets. The Arrow rocket is based on the principle of using Kinetic Energy as a weapon of destruction. The hypersonic speed of the Arrow rockets can allow it to be used as an anti-satellite weapon.

The Arrow defence system is compatible with the US Patriot Missile Defence System, providing interoperability. The missiles can be launched from silos, canisters, and each launcher consists of six missiles. The United States has funded roughly half of the annual development costs of the Arrow 2 system.

By 2020, the total U.S. financial contribution toward the Arrow Weapon System exceeded $3.7 billion.