August 26, 2004 :: BBC :: News
Although a test of the Arrow-2 interceptor on July 29 resulted in the successful destruction of an actual Scud-B missile, another attempt today showed the Arrow unable to destroy a target made to simulate the more sophisticated Iranian Shahab-3.
Chris Taylor, spokesman for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency which is jointly developing the Arrow with Israel, commented that “The engineers don’t yet know what happened.”
The test, the 13th Arrow intercept test and the eighth test of the complete weapon system, was against an air-launched target, dropped from a C-17 aircraft, made to simulate a missile similar to a threat Israel could face.
The target was dropped 360 miles west-northwest of San Nicolas Island, after which its booster ignited. The arrow Green Pine radar picked up the target, and the Arrow interceptor was launched from San Nicolas.
According to Israeli news sources, the test involved a missile with dual warheads, one actual and one “dummy,” and although the Arrow accurately discerned the actual warhead it failed to intercept it.
The test comes days after a report that it could possibly be delayed, due to disagreement between Israel and the United States over the urgency of the test. A report by Geostrategy-direct on August 24 noted that the test was going to be against an “advanced Scud D ballistic missile,” such as those deployed in Syria. Israel’s Major General Moshe Ivry-Sukenik, the outoing defense attache in Washington, was quoted as saying that, “We have to prepare for future threats and modify the Arrow for this…This test is so important because the enemy is not waiting.” Ivry-Sukenik was also cited as noting opposition within the U.S. defense establishment to the test launch. (Article)
» MDA press release
» More stories on: Israel, Testing - Foreign
» Missile system details for: Arrow
