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

Last year, Hamas launched Operation ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’, which included both aerial and ground attacks. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported that dozens of surface-to-surface missile launches from Iran were detected approaching Israeli territory. The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted the majority of these launches using the Arrow Aerial Defense System, developed jointly by Israel and the US during the late 1980s. The Arrow Aerial Defense System underwent multiple advancements, resulting in the induction of the Arrow 2 missiles in 2000.

This system allows Israel to intercept short and medium-range missiles in the upper atmosphere, aiming to neutralize incoming threats before their descent stage. The system is part of a layered defense, alongside the Iron Dome and David’s Sling, which create a comprehensive defensive network. The Iron Dome has been deployed to intercept drones and short-range threats, while David’s Sling handles medium-to-long-range intercepting. The Arrow Defense System consists of the missile launcher, Green Pine fire control radar, Hazelnut Tree Launch Control Center, and Citron Tree battle management center, providing long-range target detection and intercepting capabilities.

In 2015, the system was put to use to intercept and destroy a ballistic missile launched by Houthis in Yemen, showcasing its effectiveness. The system is also interoperable with the US Patriot Missile Defense System. Although the Arrow 3 is the latest addition to the system, Israel acknowledged its failure to intercept Syrian missiles on multiple occasions in April 2021. The United States has heavily funded the development of the Arrow systems, with total contributions exceeding $3.7 billion by 2020.