14 August 2020: The Israel Missile Defence Organization (IMDO), of the Directorate of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D), in the Israel Ministry of Defence, together with the American Missile Defence Agency (MDA), and the Israeli Air Force (IAF), have completed a successful test of the Arrow 2 weapon system overnight on the 12th of August 2020 at 11:45 p.m. The test was led by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and conducted at a site located in central Israel.
Throughout the test, the Arrow 2 system successfully engaged a Sparrow target missile, which simulates a long-range surface-to-surface missile. The campaign was conducted in accordance to the defense establishment’s plans.
Commenting on the flight, defence minister, Benny Gantz said, “Israel must face challenges both near and far, and our elite technological unit led by the DDR&D, IAI, and additional defence industries, ensures that we will always be one step ahead of our enemies, and that we will defend Israeli skies from any threat.”
The joint Israeli-American test reflects the partnership and friendship between the two countries as well as the deep commitment of the United States to the safety of the citizens of Israel.
During the test, the updated capabilities of the Arrow system to contend with current and future threats were validated. The interception was conducted by IAF service members together with engineers from the institutions involved in the system’s development. The various layers of Israel’s air defence mechanism were employed in this test, in order to ensure their readiness and efficacy in operational scenarios.
This successful interception test joins a series of additional achievements, including the Arrow-3 test campaign conducted by the IMDO and MDA last year, in Alaska. Both systems demonstrated advanced operational capabilities. The integration of both systems in Israel’s air defence mechanism significantly expands and enhances the state’s capability to defend against current and future threats.
