Israel-Iran Conflict Live: Iran’s Unprecedented Attack on Israel’s Arrow Defense Ends in Failure

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 defence 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 3 rockets neutralize targets in the exo-atmosphere before the ballistic missile enters the re-entry stage. Videos on social media platforms show the Arrow system intercepting Iranian missiles in the exo-atmosphere.

Unlike conventional hit-and-kill technology of rockets that rely on liquid or gas propulsion, the Arrow 3 has a conventional rocket motor, and once launched, its trajectory can be adjusted. Though Arrow 3 is the latest addition, in April 2021, Israel admitted that it failed to intercept Syrian missiles on multiple occasions. 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.