Article Posted on : - Mar 01, 2013

Arrow launch. A Boeing photo.

WASHINGTON (BNS): The Israel Missile Defence Organization (IMDO) and the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) have successfully carried out the flight test of the Arrow-3 interceptor missile.

The first flyout test of the Arrow-3 interceptor was conducted at an Israeli test range over the Mediterranean Sea on Monday.

At 00:52:31 EST, the Arrow-3 interceptor successfully launched and flew an exo-atmospheric trajectory through space, according to the test plan, the MDA said in a statement.

Arrow 3 is the next-generation interceptor for the Arrow Weapon System jointly developed by Israel and the United States. It can be launched earlier and engage threats at higher altitudes outside the Earth's atmosphere than previous interceptors.

The missile is designed to provide another layer of defence against ballistic missiles, to add interception opportunities to Israel's Arrow Weapon System and to improve the active defence architecture of the State of Israel against the missile threats, the MDA said.

The new Arrow 3 interceptor is being developed by Boeing and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). IAI is responsible for system integration and final interceptor assembly in Israel. Boeing, in addition to co-developing Arrow 3, provides several interceptor components for the in-service Arrow 2.