Arrow 3
| Company type | Missile system |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense |
| Predecessor | Arrow 2 |
| Founded | August 2008 |
| Founder | Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing |
| Fate | Active |
| Headquarters | Israel, United States |
Area served | Israel, potential export customers including Germany and Azerbaijan |
Key people | Joseph Hasson (chief missile designer) |
| Products | Exoatmospheric anti-ballistic missile system |
| Owner | Israel Aerospace Industries, Boeing |
| Parent | Israel Ministry of Defense "Homa" division, U.S. Missile Defense Agency |
| Website | www |
The Arrow 3, also known as Hetz 3 (, or ), represents an exoatmospheric anti-ballistic missile system developed collaboratively by Israel and the United States. Production and management are handled by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing, under the supervision of Israel's Ministry of Defense "Homa" (, meaning "Defensive wall") division alongside the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. This interceptor targets ballistic missiles during their flight through space, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) equipped with nuclear, chemical, biological, or conventional warheads. Its kill vehicle is equipped with divert thrusters that enable rapid directional adjustments and can be modified for an anti-satellite role by rotating sensors 90 degrees to detect orbiting satellites. The missile is reported to have a flight range extending up to .
The chairman of the Israeli Space Agency has revealed that Arrow 3 might serve as an anti-satellite weapon, placing Israel among a select group of nations possessing such technology.
Background
Development of Arrow 3 commenced in August 2008 as a high-tier missile defense solution boasting a kill probability near 99%. This initiative followed a 2006–2007 architecture study that identified the necessity for integration within Israel's ballistic missile defense network. The core of the system is an exoatmospheric interceptor co-developed by IAI and Boeing.
To support Arrow 3’s extended range, enhanced detection and tracking capabilities beyond those provided by the EL/M-2080 "Green Pine" radars used with Arrow 2 are essential. Potential sensor upgrades include electro-optical systems mounted on high-altitude UAVs, improvements to the "Green Pine" radar arrays, and the U.S.-operated AN/TPY-2 radar stationed in Israel.
The Arrow program represents a multibillion-dollar cooperative effort between Israel and the United States.
| Fiscal Year | Amount (Million USD) |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 30.0 |
| 2009 | 50.036 |
| 2010 | 58.966 |
| 2011 | 66.220 |
| 2012 | 74.700 |
| 2013 | 74.707 |
| 2014 | 74.707 |
| 2015 | 89.550 |
| 2016 | 20.0 |
| 2017 | 204.893 |
| 2018 | 310.0 |
| 2019 | 80.0 |
| 2020 | 55.0 |
| 2021 | 77.0 |
Development
Preliminary testing for Arrow 3 began in 2011 under IAI’s direction as groundwork for comprehensive fly-out trials. On January 23, 2012, the Israeli Ministry of Defense released footage showcasing successful fly-out tests conducted at Palmachim Airbase, confirming the interceptor’s propulsion and tracking functionality.
That same day, IAI announced a collaboration with Boeing, which contributes approximately 40–50% of Arrow 3’s manufacturing components, including motor casings, shrouds, launch canisters, ignition systems, batteries, inertial navigation units, avionics suites, actuators, and valves.
A subsequent fly-out test on February 25, 2013, launched from Palmachim Airbase, demonstrated hypersonic velocity and an altitude near 100 kilometers—effectively reaching space while tracking celestial bodies and other objects—with engine operation lasting six minutes.
On January 3, 2014, another successful test featured two engine firings enabling intricate maneuvers in space designed to simulate interception of a hypothetical hostile missile.
A planned December 2014 test intended to demonstrate exo-atmospheric interception capabilities was ultimately classified as a "no test" due to conditions unfavorable for missile launch.
On December 10, 2015, Arrow 3 achieved its inaugural successful intercept during a complex trial that validated its ability to detect, identify, track, and discriminate between genuine and decoy targets launched by an advanced Silver Sparrow target missile. This success marked a significant step toward initiating low-rate initial production.
Further flight tests took place on February 19, 2018, and January 22, 2019 within Israel.
In July 2019 at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska, Arrow 3 successfully intercepted three hostile rockets—including one target beyond Earth’s atmosphere—demonstrating its effectiveness against threats in exoatmospheric conditions.
Specifications
In June 2009, Israel Aerospace Industries revealed that the Arrow 3 utilizes a patented exoatmospheric interception technique featuring a two-stage interceptor similar to Arrow 2, but exclusively relying on hit-to-kill technology. Unlike many kill vehicles that depend on liquid or gas propulsion systems, the Arrow 3 employs a solid rocket motor equipped with a thrust-vectoring nozzle and a gimbaled seeker capable of hemispheric tracking. This seeker measures its line-of-sight relative to the interceptor’s trajectory and applies proportional navigation to achieve highly accurate target interception. Joseph Hasson, IAI’s chief missile designer and co-holder of the patent, characterizes the design as straightforward, dependable, cost-efficient, and grounded in well-established technologies. The kill vehicle’s maneuverability decreases dependence on complex detection and tracking infrastructures. At the June 2009 Paris Air Show, IAI exhibited a full-scale Arrow 3 missile along with its kill vehicle.
The Arrow 3 system is engineered to engage ballistic missiles—particularly those armed with weapons of mass destruction—at altitudes beyond and at extended ranges. It is also adaptable for deployment from maritime platforms. Compared to its predecessor Arrow 2, Arrow 3 offers higher velocity, a slightly reduced size, and approximately half the weight.
A single Arrow 3 battery is capable of intercepting salvo attacks involving more than five ballistic missiles within a 30-second window. Its launch can occur prior to knowing the target’s precise trajectory; once the target is identified, thrust-vectoring enables mid-course adjustments culminating in direct body-to-body collision.
The system targets a lowered life-cycle cost over 30 years and shares launch infrastructure with Arrow 2. As of 2010, individual unit costs were projected between $2 million and $3 million, with overall program expenses estimated at $700–$800 million over three years.
Prominent Israeli authorities such as Prof. Isaac Ben-Israel—former head of the Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure and current chair of the Israel Space Agency—have suggested that Arrow 3 might also function effectively as an anti-satellite weapon.
Production
Stark, a U.S.-based subsidiary under Israel Aerospace Industries, was chosen to produce canisters for the Arrow 3 system and delivered the initial units in September 2018.
Deployment
In 2013, initiatives were launched to expand an Israeli Air Force base at Tal Shahar to accommodate four Arrow 3 launchers, each loader configured with six missiles for a total of 24 interceptors. Completion was anticipated by late 2014. The Arrow 3 system was officially declared operational on January 18, 2017.
On October 31, 2023, an Arrow 2 interceptor successfully destroyed a long-range ballistic missile launched by Houthi forces from Yemen. This event marked the first combat use of an Arrow missile and represented the inaugural interception of a ground-to-ground ballistic missile in wartime conditions. Since this interception took place outside Earth’s atmosphere, it is recognized as the first occurrence of space warfare.
Subsequently, on November 9, 2023, an Arrow 3 missile intercepted a Houthi-launched projectile aimed at Eilat, Israel’s southern city—its first successful engagement in that context.
During a significant Iranian missile and drone assault on April 13, 2024—targeting critical Israeli military installations—the Arrow 3 system played an essential role in defense operations alongside support from U.S., Jordanian, British, and French forces. Despite these efforts, numerous Iranian ballistic missiles penetrated defenses and struck various urban centers within Israel.
Further interceptions of Houthi ballistic missiles by the Arrow 3 occurred on September 14 and September 28, 2024 amid ongoing regional hostilities.
Prospective operators
- — As part of the European Sky Shield Initiative, Germany is set to procure the system to shield against missile threats from Russia. The Bundestag gave its approval in June 2023, with operational deployment anticipated by 2025. U.S. authorization for the acquisition was granted in August 2023. According to Israel's defence ministry, this $3.5 billion agreement represents the largest defence procurement in Israel’s history.
Potential buyers
- — Amid heightened tensions with Iran in 2021, Azerbaijan explored the possibility of acquiring the system.
See also
- RIM-161 Standard Missile 3
- S-300VM missile system
- S-400 missile system
- S-500 missile system
- HQ-19
- Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
- Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme
- Comparison of anti-ballistic missile systems
External links
- , official site for the Arrow missile system.
- .