Air Force successfully tests Arrow Scud buster

The Jerusalem Post ^ | Dec. 2, 2005 | ARIEH O'SULLIVAN

[ChicagoHebrew]

The Air Force held the 14th test of the Israeli-designed Arrow 2 anti-ballistic missile on Friday, successfully intercepting an incoming rocket at a higher altitude than ever before.

A day after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared that Israel would not tolerate Iranian efforts to get nuclear arms, the test demonstrated Israel's robust interception capability against incoming missiles that may be armed with nuclear or chemical warheads.

The Defense Ministry said the routine test, which was scheduled over a year ago, tested improvements made to the Arrow 2 system.

The test took place at 10:28 a.m., when the Arrow 2 interceptor was launched from the Palmachim Air Force base south of Tel Aviv.

An F-15 fighter jet flying over the Mediterranean dropped a Black Sparrow test missile specially designed to simulate an incoming Iranian Shihab 3 missile headed toward the Israeli shore.

The radar detected the Black Sparrow missile and relayed its data to a battle management center, which issued the command to launch the Arrow 2 interceptor.

"The interceptor performed successfully and intercepted the target," a Defense Ministry statement said. "The test's success is a major step in the system's operational improvements to deal with future ballistic missile threats.'

Air Force officers carried out the test, but officials from the companies which manufacture the system as well as US officials were also on hand.

Air Force Patriot batteries also participated passively in the test, following the incoming missile with their radars and simulating interceptions. This tested the entire missile defense screen of the country, the only nation in the world to have a national missile defense shield.

"The defense establishment, the Ministry of Defense, the defense industries and the IDF have proven once again their technological contribution to Israel's national defense," said Jacob Toren, director general of the Defense Ministry.

"The success of the test will improve the existing operational capabilities of the Arrow system that will be able to cope successfully with future threats."

The Arrow 2 was delivered to the Air Force in 1998 and has been declared operational for over five years.

[ChicagoHebrew]

Israel builds a successful national missle defense shield. Meanwhile, even with GOP control of the White House and Congress, we can't get squat done and remain hostage to the Kim Jong Ils and Irans of the world.

[zzen01]

Iran(Persia) ARE YOU LISTENING?!

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[1rudeboy]

Huh? The Arrow program is a joint US-Israeli project.

[jw777]

how bout a nuke (oops) test in the Bekka valley

[Yo-Yo]

The US was late to the party.

[struwwelpeter]

Kudos to Israel - this shows that intelligence, perserverance, and dedication can overcome any obstacle.

That said, taking out a simulated Scud isn't the same as knocking down a Topol-M. It's a good start, though. We should buy a lot of Arrows to compliment Aegis, Patriot, and whatever our final long-range batteries turn out to be.

If every Europeon nation began buying these in earnest, think of the effect on Israel's economy... and Pyongyang's ;-)

[1rudeboy]

Define "late."

Israel began work on a potential theater missile defense (TMD) system in 1986, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States.

[Waverunner]

Yes but how long before the technology is sold to china.
Israel was willing to sell AEW and UAV technology to China, and only were ostensibly stopped under US protest. Just like Pakistan, Israel is a small country that needs to sell technology for hard cash. Watch out for improvements in Chinese targeting and radar systems.

[SJSAMPLE]

Have they sold their Python AtoA missile to the Chinese, yet?

[adam_az]

"Israel was willing to sell AEW and UAV technology to China, and only were ostensibly stopped under US protest. Just like Pakistan, Israel is a small country that needs to sell technology for hard cash. Watch out for improvements in Chinese targeting and radar systems."

Guess what, WE sell tons of commercial air and maritime radar to the Chinese which is pressed into military use.

We sell supercomputers to China.

Face it - the US protests are just military excuses for anticompetitive behavior. If we REALLY wanted to reign in the Chicoms, we'd have a different policy towards them.

The log is in our eye.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Ping!

[Waverunner]

AWACS functions just a little different , and ground based systems aren't designed to shoot down cruise missiles, or detect very low flying strike aircraft. Israel looks out for Israel first, which is a policy we should adopt, especially with regards to China. Clinton policies gave China way too much technology, and the Walmart shopper gives them way too much money, while reducing our domestic industrial base. China is an economy based on slave labor and artificial exchange rates, whose leaders believe that people are expendable for long range goals. Just think how our law based progressive society would react to a Corp of Engineers plan to dam the Mississippi , create a 500 mile long lake , and displace 20 million people doing it. All lawyers may now salivate at the thought. In China it's policy. Clinton and Carter taught Israel it can't count on the US, so they are just covering the bases, but I still don't have to like them playing both sides, even though it's prudent