Arrow Interceptor Test Successful: Scud Destroyed
July 29, 2004 :: Ha'aretz :: News
The Arrow missile defense system, jointly developed by Israel and the United States, successfully intercepted an incoming Scud missile. Both missiles were fired from locations near Los Angeles, and the interception took place over the Pacific Ocean.
The test, described as both “realistic” and “crucial,” has been planned for two years. It marks the seventh test of the full Arrow system and the twelfth test of the Arrow interceptor. The Scud was launched from a U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center at Point Magu near Los Angeles. The Arrow system’s radar, called Green Pine, directed the interceptor to its target. Although an earlier report from the Indian Express said that the U.S. Defense Department refused to say where the Scud came from, Haaretz today claimed that the Scud was confiscated from Iraq. In the previous test, in December 2003, the Arrow intercepted a Black Sparrow missile, also produced by Israel.
The Arrow has been operational in Israel since 2000, and two batteries of the missiles are currently deployed, at Ein Shemer and Palmahim. A number of other countries, such as India, are considering purchasing one or more of various competing missile defense systems, including the Arrow, the American Patriot PAC-3, and the Russian S-300 and S-400.
Originally designed to protect against Iraqi Scuds and Al Hussein missiles, the future of the Arrow for Israel will likely be to defend against potential attacks by Iran’s Shahab-3. Iran on Monday threatened to wipe Israel “off the map” if either Israel or the United States attempted to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Israel, Testing - American, Testing - Foreign
» Missile system details for: Arrow
THEL Test Successful
May 6, 2004 :: Northrop Grumman :: News
The Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) successfully destroyed a rocket by means of a laser on May 4, reports its producer, Northrop Grumman in a press release today. The test is described as “history making,” because the rocket destroyed was “larger, faster and that flies higher than previous threats destroyed by the laser weapon demonstrator.” A previous test this past week succeeded in its primary goal of tracking the rocket but did not attempt to destroy it. The target rockets in both tests were 6 1/2 inches in diameter and 11 feet long.
The interception comes as part of a series of tests begun on April 29. These specific tests were of a mobile form of the laser, called MTHEL, which will be the first version deployable of the weapons system. THEL is a collaborative effort between Israel and the United States, often tested at White Sands, New Mexico.
In programs such as THEL, the speed of lasers permits rapid interception of both short range rockets with a short flight time, as in the case of Israel, but also the ability to destroy larger, even intercontinental ballistic missiles during their brief ascent, or boost phase. Whereas another land-based boostphase program, the Kinetic Energy Interceptor, must devise methods for the interceptor to achieve extremely high velocities in order to “catch up” with an enemy missile during a brief ascent window, lasers based on land or in space would permit much more comfortable reaction times. (Article, Link)
» April 30, 2004: Previous MTHEL test
» April 21, 2003: THEL selected by Army
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, Israel, Testing - American, Testing - Foreign
» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)
New Arrow II Missile Interceptors
May 4, 2004 :: Defense News :: News
A joint project between Boeing and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has begun to begin producing new missile interceptors for Israel’s Arrow II ballistic missile defense program. New deliveries are due in Israel by the end of 2004, where they will be assembled.
Arieh Herzog, director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization, responded to criticisms about the threat posed to Israel, by noting that the threat from missiles will never quite return to nothing:
Obviously, events of the past year have brought us good news in terms of a diminished number of countries that can threaten Israel with ballistic missiles. But we have to remember that nothing moves backward. As long as the Americans are in Iraq, the threat is checked. But if the Americans leave, we don’t know what kind of regime will be there. Without American supervision, the Iraqi ballistic missile program and its capabilities could be quickly reconstituted.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Israel
» Missile system details for: Arrow
THEL Tested at White Sands
April 30, 2004 :: Spacewar.com :: News
A test of the joint U.S.-Israeli anti-missile laser Nautilus was successfully conducted on April 30 at the White Sands U.S. Army base in New Mexico, reports the Jeruslaem Post. The Nautilus test was part of the umbrella THEL (Tactical High Energy Laser) project.
The primary objective of locating the missile and tracking it was accomplished, though the secondary objective, to destroy it, was not attempted, according to an Army press release.
The mobile version of the THEL has already been effective against short range Soviet-origin Katyusha rockets which are often fired at Israel from across the Lebanese border by Hezbollah groups. The THEL is expected to be battlefield ready by 2007. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, Israel, Testing - American, Testing - Foreign
» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)
Israel Doubling Range of Arrow-2
April 9, 2004 :: Middle East Newsline :: News
Israel has nearly doubled the intercept range of the Arrow-2 missile defense interceptor, reports the Middle East Newsline. The current altitude range is said to be over 200,000 feet, or 60 kilometers, as confirmed by a December 16, 2003 test against a Scud-D medium-range missile. The upgrades will be integrated into Israel’s two deployed Arrow-2 batteries. (Link)
» Being contract for Arrow 2 interceptors
» More stories on: Israel
» Missile system details for: Arrow
Israeli-Developed Phalcon Claimed Able to “Neutralize” Pakistani Missile
March 18, 2004 :: News
Israel’s Phalcon system, previously sold to India, is capable of “neutralizing” Pakistan’s Shaheen II ballisic missile, according to a news report, which came just after Pakistan’s test of the Shaheen II on March 16.
It is unclear in what sense the early warning/spy plane can neutralize the Pakistani missile, unless it is meant that it would be used in concjunction with a missile defense system.
India is also considering purchasing the U.S. Patriot, the Russian S-300, and the Israeli Arrow missile defense systems. (Article, Link)
» FAS description of Phalcon system
» Mar. 4, 2004: Israel-India Phalcon deal
» Mar. 1: Pakistan complains of Phalcon
» More stories on: India, Israel, Pakistan
Israel to Build Airship to Track Missiles
March 4, 2004 :: Washington Times :: News
Precise monitoring and tracking of incoming ballistic missiles is an important element to defend against them. In recent months, the US has begun research on a High Altitude Airship, a necxt-generation blimp, to do just this. Now Israel has followed suit, and begun to develop its own such device. Theirs would be 200 yards long and 60 yards wide, would remain at 70,000 feet above the surface for years, and would be capable of tracking missiles up to 600 miles away. (Link)
» More stories on: Air, Israel, Technology
» Missile system details for: High Altitude Airship (Blimp)
Israel Developing New Ground-Based Interceptor
February 20, 2004 :: Geostrategy-Direct :: News
Israel is developing an additional land-based missile defense system to supplement the Arrow-2 interceptors, a land-version of the Barak naval point defense missile system, which would also destroy missiles in their last, or terminal stage. The new system is said to be designed to intercept medium and long range missiles. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Israel
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