The Arrow 3 system – an interceptor designed to shoot down ballistic missiles above the Earth’s atmosphere – is jointly produced by Israel and the US…reports Asian Lite News
Israel said the United States on Thursday approved the sale of the Arrow 3 hypersonic missile defense system to Germany, in the country’s biggest ever military deal worth $3.5 billion.
The Arrow 3 system – an interceptor designed to shoot down ballistic missiles above the Earth’s atmosphere – is jointly developed and produced by Israel and the United States.
Israel’s defense ministry said in a statement the US State Department had notified it of the US government’s approval for Germany to procure the Arrow 3 system.
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The ministry said senior officials from the Israeli and German defense ministries would sign a letter of commitment to the deal with a preliminary payment of $600 million.
“With its exceptional long-range interception capabilities, operating at high altitudes above the atmosphere, (the Arrow 3) stands as the top interceptor of its kind,” it said.
“The system employs a hit-to-kill approach for intercepting incoming threats.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, quoted in the statement, called the agreement “the largest in Israel’s history.”
“This is a significant decision, which will contribute to Israel’s force buildup and economy,” he said.
“It is also particularly meaningful to every Jewish person, that Germany is acquiring Israeli defense capabilities.”
According to Israeli manufacturer IAI, the Arrow 3 system can intercept ballistic missiles fired from a distance of up to 2,400 kilometers.
The system was first deployed in an Israeli air force base in 2017 and has been used to protect Israel against attacks from Iran and Syria.
The final contract for the deal is expected to be signed by end of 2023 after it is approved by the parliaments of Germany and Israel, the Israeli defense ministry said.
In a ceremony scheduled for November, Israeli and German defense officials will sign a declaration of commitment of $600 million to allow for the project’s immediate commencement. The details of the contract were agreed upon by both defense ministries and have been submitted for final approval by the German government.
The Arrow 3, considered the most advanced system of its kind, is meant to intercept long-range ballistic missiles before they reenter the atmosphere. It has a so-called hit-to-kill capability that enables it to directly intercept the target outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
The weaponry, missile interceptor and radar detection system of the Arrow 3 were developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries, led by President and CEO Boaz Levy. Its command and control technology was developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems. The Tomer and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, both Israeli government companies, are the main subcontractors for producing the system’s main interceptors. Stark Aerospace, owned by the Israel Aerospace Industries, is the main contractor in the U.S.
While Patriot and IRIS-T cover the medium layer of air defence, Arrow-3 – produced by Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing Co – offers protection for the higher layer.
The deal was valued at nearly $350 million. “I am confident that the cooperation between our countries will further enhance our readiness to respond to regional and global threats,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said at the time.
While Israel has expressed support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, it has turned down requests to provide weapons. Instead, it has delivered humanitarian aid to Ukraine and promised to deliver a sophisticated air defense warning system.
Israel has a delicate relationship with Russia. It maintains security coordination with Russia in neighboring Syria – where Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against Iranian military positions in recent years. Russia is also home to a large Jewish community.
Uzi Rubin, the former director of Israel’s missile defense program, said Israeli sales of missile defense systems to Ukraine are unlikely anytime soon. But he said the deal with Finland, and likely Germany, could usher in additional sales to Europe as the continent realizes it must defend itself against the “big bad bear” of Russia.
“Europe has lived for 30 years with a kind of illusion that it has no security problems anymore,” said Rubin, who is now a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security. “Now that the big bad bear is out hunting, everybody is scared.”
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