Israel successfully test fires Arrow missile defense system

Tel Aviv (Israel), Feb.17 (ANI): Israel's ability to defend itself in a future war has once again been demonstrated by it successfully testing the Arrow missile defense sytem.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the missile defense system was tested on Friday.

An F-15 Israel Air Force (IAF) fighter jet launched a Blue Sparrow missile developed by Raphael to impersonate long-range Iranian ballistic missiles.

The Arrow's radar and detection system, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) detected the incoming "enemy" missile and tracked it together with the United States X-Band radar deployed in the Negev desert.

The Arrow interceptor was not launched during the test, in line with the parameters of the drill, which was carried out to test the system's overall capabilities in detecting and tracking incoming enemy targets.

The Israeli Defense Ministry said the test was not connected to current events and was part of the Arrow system's annual training regimen.

It, however, described it as a significant milestone, as it completes the development of Block 4 stage of the interceptor, which will be delivered to the IAF in the coming weeks.

The Arrow serves as Israel's upper-tier missile defense system.

Additional layers include the Iron Dome for short-range rockets and the soon-to-be-deployed David's Sling, which is being developed to defend against medium-range rockets.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised the successful test.

"This is an important technological achievement and an important step in Israel's progress in the field of defense," Barak said. (ANI)