Arrow (missile family)

Arrow
Arrow 2 launch on July 29, 2004, in Naval Air Station Point Mugu Missile Test Center, during AST USFT#1
Arrow 2 launch on July 29, 2004, at the Naval Air Station Point Mugu Missile Test Center, during AST USFT#1.
TypeAnti-ballistic missile
Place of originIsrael
United States[1]
Service history
In service2000–present
Used byIsrael
Wars
Production history
DesignerIsrael Aerospace Industries, Boeing
Designed1994–present
ManufacturerIsrael Aerospace Industries, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Unit costUS$3 million (as of 2003[2])
Produced2000–present
Specifications
Mass
  • 1,300 kg (2,900 lb)[3] – "missile itself"
  • 2,800 kg (6,200 lb)[4] – officially
  • 3,500 kg (7,700 lb)[5] – sealed canister
Length6.8 m (22 ft)[6] – 7 m (23 ft)[7][4]
  • 3.45 m (11.3 ft)[8] – booster section
  • 0.75 m (2.5 ft)[8] – sustainer section
  • 2.75 m (9.0 ft)[8] – kill vehicle section
DiameterBy stage:
  • 800 mm (31 in)[7][8] – 1st stage
  • 500 mm (20 in)[6] – 2nd stage
Wingspan820 mm (32 in)[6]
WarheadDirected high explosive fragmentation[8]
Warhead weight150 kg (330 lb)[9]
Detonation
mechanism
Proximity fuze[7][8]
EngineTwo-stage[7][8]
PropellantSolid propellant[7][8]
Operational
range
90 km (56 mi)[7][8] – 150 km (93 mi)[6]
Flight ceilingExo-atmospheric[10][11]
Maximum speed Arrow 2: Mach 9, means 2.5 km/s (1.6 mi/s)[7][8]
Guidance
system
Dual mode: passive infrared seeker and active radar seeker[7][8]
Steering
system
Thrust vectoring and four aerodynamic control moving fins[8]
AccuracyWithin 4 m (13 ft) of the target[7][12]
Launch
platform
Six canisters per trailer-mounted erector–launcher[7][8]

The Arrow or Hetz (Hebrew: חֵץ, pronounced [ˈχet͡s] or pronounced [ˈħet͡s]) 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 [experimental] (at short ranges).[13]

The Arrow system consists of the joint production supersonic 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.[14][15] It is the first operational missile defense system specifically designed and built to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles.[16][17] 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.[18] Arrow 3 operates at greater speeds,[19] 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.[20]

  1. ^ Rubin, Uzi (March 2, 2003), "Beyond Iraq: Missile Proliferation in the Middle East", Jerusalem Letter / Viewpoints, no. 493, JCPA, archived from the original on February 11, 2021, retrieved September 10, 2009, The Arrow program used practically no U.S. technology, just U.S. money. It was almost entirely based on Israeli technology, though we bought some components in the U.S. because they were cheaper.
  2. ^ Marom, Dror (March 10, 2003). "Transferring production to Boeing won't make Arrow cheaper". Globes. IL. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bar-Joseph was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference iafkg was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Egozi2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference astro was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cite error: The named reference armytec was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Cite error: The named reference nti2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Krueger, Mathew (2008). World of Chronos guidebook. Blitzprint. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-7795-0262-2. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  10. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiRu3Ew-7D0 "Endo and exo-atmospheric altitudes", on the sing
  11. ^ http://www.iai.co.il/sip_storage/files/0/34770.pdf Archived February 17, 2018, at the Wayback Machine A presentation of the company itself. "end&exo atmospheric interception capability" page 15
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference gpj2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Israel successfully tests Arrow 3 missile interceptor". BBC News. February 25, 2013.
  14. ^ "Missile defense systems: Arrow". Missile Threat. Claremont Institute. Archived from the original on August 30, 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  15. ^ "The Arrow missile program". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
  16. ^ "Israel profile: missile overview: Arrow anti-ballistic missile defense system". Nuclear Threat Initiative. October 2008. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  17. ^ "U.S.–Israel missile defense cooperation" (PDF). American Israel Public Affairs Committee. December 21, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference a3swr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Sharp, Jeremy M. (December 22, 2016). "CRS report for Congress: U.S. foreign aid to Israel" (PDF). www.everycrsreport.com. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  20. ^ Opall-Rome, Barbara (November 9, 2009). "Israeli experts: Arrow-3 could be adapted for anti-satellite role". SpaceNews: 16. Retrieved November 1, 2023.