Israel-Iran Conflict Live: Why Iran’s Unprecedented Attack Was Unsuccessful Against Israel’s Arrow Defense

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 that “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 of the Arrow Aerial Defense System 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.

Israel’s air defence system consists of Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the Arrow Defence System, creating a layered defence system. Iron Dome has been battle-tested in the past and was actively deployed to intercept drones and short-range threats. Israel also has a medium-to-long-range interceptor known as David’s Sling. The Arrow 3 rockets intercept and destroy 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. 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 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.