Israel Upgrades Its Defenses Against Iran With Successful Arrow Test

The Defense Ministry’s Homa Administration, part of MAFAT—the Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure—together with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the IDF, and Israel Aerospace Industries, successfully completed a preplanned test of the Arrow air-defense system yesterday (Wednesday). The test was conducted from a test site near Palmachim Airbase and is part of a multiyear testing program designed to develop, upgrade, and maintain the system’s operational readiness.

The Arrow system serves as the upper layer of Israel’s multilayered defense network, alongside Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Or Eitan. According to the Defense Ministry, the system includes threat-detection and classification capabilities using powerful Green Pine and Great Pine radar systems, as well as a command-and-control system, a fire-management system, and interceptors capable of exo-atmospheric interception at high altitudes and far from Israel’s borders.

The Defense Ministry said the test was intended to assess and further improve the system’s capabilities as part of preparations for evolving regional threats, while preserving Israel’s technological edge in missile defense.

Defense Minister Israel Katz commented on the completion of the test: "Further proof of the strength of Israel’s defense establishment, defense industries, and technological capabilities. The Arrow system proved itself in the war, successfully intercepting numerous threats from Iran and other arenas and protecting Israel’s citizens."

Katz added: "We continue to upgrade its capabilities on an ongoing basis, and Israel is constantly preparing for current and future threats. We will continue investing in the development of the world’s most advanced defense systems, while also strengthening our offensive capabilities, in order to ensure Israel’s security superiority and the safety of its citizens."

Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram also emphasized the importance of the test, saying that "the groundbreaking Arrow system test puts into practice the central elements of the Defense Ministry’s strategy—preserving the technological advantage by developing ‘the next surprises’ and strengthening Israel’s munitions independence."

According to Baram, "even these days, against the backdrop of the successful campaign in Iran, we continue operating on an emergency footing along two tracks: dramatically accelerating the pace of production and upgrading the system’s capabilities. Thanks to the decisions we made over the past year, Israel now has a growing stockpile of interceptors with new, continually developing capabilities."