Israel Successfully Tests Missile Defense System

Israel successfully tested its Arrow missile defense system on Friday, the Defense Ministry said.

An Israeli F-15 fighter jet launched a Blue Sparrow, a missile developed to impersonate long-range Iranian ballistic missiles.

The Arrow detected the incoming "enemy" missile and tracked it together with the US X-Band radar deployed in the Negev Desert.

The target was not intercepted because that was not part of the drill scenario.

The test completes the development of the Block 4 stage of the interceptor that will soon enter service with the Israeli Air Force (IAF).

The Arrow is Israel's upper-tier missile-defense system. Additional layers include the Iron Dome for short-range rockets and David's Sling, which is being developed to counter medium-range missiles.


Source: Moscow, 10 February 2012 - RIA Novosti News (http://en.rian.ru)

Photo Story:  Israeli F-15A fighter jet launched a Blue Sparrow (Graphic by makeadifference.cufi.org)

Blue Sparrow is an air-launched ballistic target, which was jointly developed by Raytheon and Rafael as an improved version of the Black Sparrow. It is used as a target for Arrow-2 ABM tests in Israel.(Photo by space.skyrocket.de )


(2/10/2012)