Arrow (missile family)

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. 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). 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. In recognition of its strategic importance and technological achievement, the Arrow system was awarded the Israel Defense Prize in 2003. 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. It is the first operational missile defense system specifically designed and built to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles. 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. Arrow 3 operates at greater speeds, 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.

Infobox

Type

Anti-ballistic missile

Place of origin

IsraelUnited States

In service

2000–present

Used by

Israel

Wars

March 2017 Israel–Syria incident Gaza war 2024 Israel–Iran conflict Iran–Israel war

Designer

Israel Aerospace Industries, Boeing

Designed

1994–present

Manufacturer

Israel Aerospace Industries, Boeing Defense, Space & Security

Unit cost

US$3 million (as of 2003)

Produced

1994–present

Mass

1,300 kg (2,900 lb) – "missile itself" 2,800 kg (6,200 lb) – officially 3,500 kg (7,700 lb) – sealed canister

Length

6.8 m (22 ft) – 7 m (23 ft) 3.45 m (11.3 ft) – booster section 0.75 m (2.5 ft) – sustainer section 2.75 m (9.0 ft) – kill vehicle section

Diameter

By stage: 800 mm (31 in) – 1st stage 500 mm (20 in) – 2nd stage

Wingspan

820 mm (32 in)

Warhead

Directed high explosive fragmentation

Warhead weight

150 kg (330 lb)

Detonationmechanism

Proximity fuze

Engine

Two-stage

Propellant

Solid propellant

Operationalrange

90 km (56 mi) – 150 km (93 mi)

Flight ceiling

Endo-exo atmospheric

mw- Maximum speed

Arrow 2: Mach 9, means 3 km/s (1.9 mi/s), Arrow 3: classified, mach 12-17

Guidancesystem

Dual mode: passive infrared seeker and active radar seeker

Steeringsystem

Thrust vectoring and four aerodynamic control moving fins

Accuracy

Within 4 m (13 ft) of the target

Launchplatform

Six canisters per trailer-mounted erector–launcher