U.S, Israel Test Arrow Anti-Missile System

The U.S and Israel today successfully tested the Arrow anti-missile system for the first time, allowing Tel Aviv defence against "threats in the regional arena" namely Iran.

"This is the first flight test of the Arrow 3 interceptor and was conducted at an Israeli test range over the Mediterranean Sea," the Israeli Defence Ministry said in a statement.

"Israel's Missile Defense Organisation and US Missile Defense Agency officials conducted the flight test," the statement said of the successful test of Arrow 3, also known as Hetz-3.

The Arrow is a jointly-produced, cutting-edge system designed to counter long-range missile attacks. "This successful test is a milestone in Israel's operational and defensive capabilities vis-a-vis threats in the regional arena," the statement said.

"This was the first test of a system that has been years in development. The system still has to undergo further tests before it becomes fully operational," it added.

Today's test did not involve an interception of any target, but was designed to try out the flight of the missile, the statement said.

Arrow 3's interceptors are designed to be launched into space, where their warheads detach, turning into "kamikaze" satellites that seek out and slam into target missiles.

The new surface-to-air missile defence system will enable Israel to better counter future threats, the Defence Ministry said. Arrow-3 joins Israel's multi-layered aerial defences, alongside the Arrow-2, Iron Dome and David's sling, better known as "Magic Wand," defence systems.