Arrow (missile family)
The Arrow or Hetz (Hebrew: חֵץ, pronounced [ˈχet͡s]) is a family of anti-ballistic missiles designed to fulfill an Israeli requirement for a missile defense system that would be more effective against ballistic missiles than the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile. Jointly funded and produced by Israel and the United States, development of the system began in 1986 and has continued since, drawing some contested criticism. Undertaken by the MALAM division of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing, it is overseen by the Israeli Ministry of Defense's "Homa" (Hebrew: חומה, pronounced [χoma], "rampart") administration and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. It forms the long-range layer of Israel's multi-tiered missile defence system, along with David's Sling (at medium-to-long range) and Iron Dome and Iron Beam (at short ranges).
| Arrow | |
|---|---|
Arrow 2 launch on July 29, 2004, at the Naval Air Station Point Mugu Missile Test Center, during AST USFT#1. | |
| Type | Anti-ballistic missile |
| Place of origin | Israel |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2000–present |
| Used by | Israel |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Israel Aerospace Industries |
| Designed | 1994–present |
| Manufacturer | Israel Aerospace Industries, Boeing Defense, Space & Security |
| Unit cost | US$3 million (as of 2003) |
| Produced | 2000–present |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length | 6.8 m (22 ft) – 7 m (23 ft)
|
| Diameter | By stage:
|
| Wingspan | 820 mm (32 in) |
| Warhead | Directed high explosive fragmentation |
| Warhead weight | 150 kg (330 lb) |
Detonation mechanism | Proximity fuze |
| Engine | Two-stage |
| Propellant | Solid propellant |
Operational range | 90 km (56 mi) – 150 km (93 mi) |
| Flight ceiling | Exo-atmospheric |
| Maximum speed | Arrow 2: Mach 9, means 2.5 km/s (1.6 mi/s) |
Guidance system | Dual mode: passive infrared seeker and active radar seeker |
Steering system | Thrust vectoring and four aerodynamic control moving fins |
| Accuracy | Within 4 m (13 ft) of the target |
Launch platform | Six canisters per trailer-mounted erector–launcher |
The Arrow system consists of the joint production hypersonic Arrow anti-missile interceptors, Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, the Elta EL/M-2080 "Green Pine" and "Great Pine" early-warning AESA radars, the Elisra "Golden Citron" ("Citron Tree") C3I center, and the Israel Aerospace Industries "Brown Hazelnut" ("Hazelnut Tree") launch control center. The system is mobile and can be moved to other prepared sites.
Following the construction and testing of the Arrow 1 technology demonstrator, production and deployment began with the Arrow 2 version of the missile. The Arrow is considered one of the most advanced missile defense programs in existence. It is the first operational missile defense system specifically designed and built to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles. The first Arrow battery was declared fully operational in October 2000 and is operated by the Protective Sword unit under the Air Defense Command of the Israeli Air Force (IAF). Although several of its components have been exported, the Air Defense Command is the sole user of the complete Arrow system.
The spaceflight upper-tier portion of Israel's missile defense, Arrow 3, was declared operational on January 18, 2017. Arrow 3 operates at greater speeds, greater range and at greater altitudes than Arrow 2, intercepting ballistic missiles during the space-flight portion of their trajectory. According to the chairman of the Israeli Space Agency, Arrow 3 may serve as an anti-satellite weapon, which would make Israel one of the world's few countries capable of shooting down satellites.