18 February 2021

Israel announces Arrow-4 development

by Yaakov Lappin & Jeremy Binnie

The Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 18 February that work has begun on a next-generation missile for Israel’s top-tier Arrow air defence system that will be able to intercept threats both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

The MoD said the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) and the US Missile Defense Agency have begun developing the Arrow-4 as “the next-generation of endo/exo-atmospheric interceptors in the Arrow Weapon System”.

“Arrow-4 will be an advanced, innovative interceptor missile with enhanced capabilities. It will address a wide range of evolving threats in the region and will replace the Arrow-2 interceptors over the next decades,” said the statement.

The Arrow-2 is used to intercept ballistic missiles after they enter the Earth’s atmosphere, while Arrow-3 is designed to intercept them before re-entry.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is the programme’s prime contractor, with its MLM division tasked with developing the launch array and missiles and Elta a new radar. Elbit Systems will develop the battle-management system, while Rafael and Tomer are involved in developing and producing the missile.

“We are starting the development of the Arrow-4 system at a symbolic time: 30 years after the Gulf War, which led to the establishment of the IMDO and the beginning of joint missile defence co-operation [with the US],” said IMDO chief Moshe Patel. “Arrow-4 will have outstanding flight and interception capabilities.”

Minister of Defense Benny Gantz said the new missile’s development would be a “technological and operational leap forward, preparing us for the future battlefield and evolving threats in the Middle East and beyond”.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/israel-announces-arrow-4-development

The Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 18 February that work has begun on a next-generati...