Arrow missile to attempt to down Scud missile over Pacific

Haaretz ^ | July 27, 2004 | Amos Harel

[yonif]

Israel and the United States are set to conduct a crucial test on a jointly developed anti-ballistic missile system, with the results of the test possibly determining the system's future.

A battery of the Arrow anti-ballistic missile system has been shipped to a U.S. naval base and will attempt to shoot down a Scud missile launched from the Pacific Ocean. The point of impact would be at an altitude of several dozen kilometers.

Israel and the U.S. decided to carry out the experiment some two years ago. The U.S. has specially purchased a Scu missile for the purpose of the test.

Military officials said the results of the test would likely determine if deployment of the system could be expanded, or if new funds would be required to continue development.

Developed jointly by Israel Aircraft Industries and Chicago-based Boeing Co. at a cost of more than $1 billion, the Arrow is one of the few systems capable of intercepting and destroying missiles at high altitudes. Its development followed the 1991 Gulf war, when Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at Israel.

This test marks the first time that an Arrow will attempt to shoot down an actual Scud missile. Previous tests have involved computer simulations and the targeting of smaller, Scud-like projectiles.

Since most of the tests were successful, defense establishment sources say that the system provides a suitable response for surface-to-surface missiles that may be fired at Israel by enemy states.

In the last test, in December 2003, the Arrow successfully destroyed a Black Arrow missile, developed by Raphael (Israel Armament Development Authority).

[skinkinthegrass]

Hmm..I'll take 24, Please. :))

[ccmay]

This is great news. With an impervious shield of hundreds of these missiles, Israel can do as it pleases, and the bloodthirsty Mahometan filth be damned.

-ccm

[Boundless]

> The U.S. has specially purchased a Scud missile
> for the purpose of the test.

That's very unusual.

It suggests that Israel isn't just deploying a deterrent,
but actually expects to have to use the Arrow, and wants
to be sure it works against the actual threat.

[MediaMole]

Iran

[sukhoi-30mki]

The Arrow is not the only trick up Israel's sleeves,there's the THEL laser system &if reports on Jane's Defence Weekly are to be believed , a new naval SAM based on Arrow technology-which unlike the Arrow may be developed with Indian funding.The missile which has been tentatively called the Barak-2(not sure on that) may be deployed on the Israeli navy's planned Saar-5 block 2 corvettes in a seaborne ABM role.Since the Indian navy is also in the midst of massive modernisation &expansion,such a system will be of great use(Russia has'nt brought out any new Naval SAMs&the new Anglo-French ones-the Aster series, are a tad too expensive).I also hope Israel could sell the Arrow to India,though given both hesitation from India&American reservations,that would be a bit far fetched.If India does get the Arrow,it would likely be integrated with the Russian S-300 system,the cousins of the US patriots.Other potential customers could include South Korea&Japan(though America wouldn't like it).

[Squantos]

Ping

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

This could be an acid test, because the scud is not a ballistic missile. An even harder test would be the ability to shoot down a tomahawk.

[risk]

This is one way to show that we're more than just talk.