Israel has begun operating a second Arrow missile defense battery, but the unit is “not at its full capacity,” an Israeli official in Washington said, according to Aerospace Daily (see GSN, June 13).

Plans to deploy the battery in northern Israel were delayed for months because nearby residents expressed concern that the system’s Green Pine radar emits harmful radiation (see GSN, Feb. 5).  Those concerns have been partially resolved, so the military has been able to begin limited operations, the official said last week (see GSN, March 8).

The Arrow missile defense system, jointly developed by the United States and Israel, is designed to protect Israel against certain ballistic missiles.  One Arrow battery in central Israel has been operational since 2000.  A third planned battery is expected to be deployed in the next few years, according to Aerospace Daily.

An Israeli missile defense analyst said that the country will probably need more Arrow batteries in the future (see GSN, May 7; Marc Selinger, Aerospace Daily, June 13).

For further information, see:

MDA Terminal Defense Segment

Federation of American Scientists Background

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