Israel successfully fired a complete Arrow missile and three unarmed rockets yesterday in a test of the missile defense system that would be called upon if Iraq were to launch Scud missiles at Israel, the New York Times reported today (see GSN, Jan. 2).

The missiles were fired seconds apart at computer-simulated targets, according to Arieh Hertzog, director of Israel’s missile defense efforts.

“It did everything it could have done to intercept those targets,” Hertzog said.  “We know how to simulate the real thing,” he added (Dexter Filkins, New York Times, Jan. 6).

The three other rockets were fired to measure the effect that launches would have on missiles that remain in the launcher.  The launcher is able to hold six missiles, United Press International reported yesterday (Joshua Brilliant, United Press International, Jan. 5).

Israeli and U.S. forces will test Israel’s entire missile defense system in coming days, the Associated Press reported yesterday (Eitan Hess-Ashkenazi, Associated Press/Yahoo.com, Jan. 5).

Previously, officials have only fired one Arrow missile at a time during tests, AP reported (Associated Press/Washington Post, Jan. 6).  Four incoming missiles were simulated in yesterday’s test (Brilliant, UPI).

This marked the 10th Arrow firing and the fifth time that the complete system was tested, the Jerusalem Post reported (Margot Dudkevitch, Jerusalem Post, Jan. 6).

For further information, see:

MDA Terminal Defense Segment

Federation of American Scientists Background on Arrow

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  GET INVOLVED  |  SITE MAP

Back to top