Global Security Newswire

Testing of an advanced Israeli missile-defense system was terminated this week following a series of technical problems, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, July 16).

Israel and the United States are collaborating on development of an improved version of the Arrow 2 system. Defense officials this week made three attempts to conduct an intercept test of a mock Iranian Shahab missile off the coast of California.

The third try yesterday was foiled by communications problems and the Arrow 2 interceptor was never fired, Israeli defense officials said (Amy Teibel, Associated Press/Google News, July 23).

"After the target was launched the Arrow system went into action," the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement. "Not all launch conditions were met and the interceptor missile was not fired" (Agence France-Presse/MSN News, July 23).

Further tests of the system, planned for tomorrow and Monday, have also been postponed.

The Arrow 2 system has already been deployed to a limited degree in Israel, which is working with the United States to produce the more advanced Arrow 3 system.

Previous tests in 2009 of the Arrow 2 had been "very successful," according to Israeli defense spokesman Shlomo Dror. Technical difficulties are not surprising for a system in the experimental stage of development, he said (Teibel, Associated Press).