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Arrow (Israeli missile)

IAI / Elbit Systems · Surface-to-Air · Israel · Modern (1992–2009)

Arrow (Israeli missile) — Surface-to-Air
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The Arrow (Hebrew: Hetz) is an Israeli-American long-range exo-atmospheric anti-ballistic missile — the world's first deployed national missile defence shield specifically designed to intercept theatre ballistic missiles. IAI (prime contractor) + Boeing (US partner) + Elta + Rafael developed the Arrow under a 1988 US-Israel joint funding agreement (~50/50 cost share). Service entry: Arrow 1 1995 (testing only), Arrow 2 2000 (combat-ready), Arrow 3 2017 (exo-atmospheric). About 400 Arrow missiles have been produced. The system is operated by the Israeli Air Force.

The Arrow 3 (current variant) is a 2-stage solid-fuel hit-to-kill interceptor. Maximum speed Mach 9 (11,113 km/h). Engagement envelope: 2,400 km range, 100 km altitude (exo-atmospheric kill — outside Earth's atmosphere). Warhead: kinetic-energy hit-to-kill (no explosive). Guidance: 2-stage — radio command updates from the EL/M-2080 Green Pine X-band radar (active electronic scanning, 500 km detection range) + terminal infrared homing. Arrow 3 can engage ICBMs as well as SRBMs / IRBMs — making it the only fielded worldwide ABM shield targeting strategic-range missiles after the US Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD).

Arrow combat use began in 2017. The first confirmed combat engagement was against a Syrian SA-5 in March 2017. From October 2023 the Arrow system intercepted multiple Houthi-launched ballistic missiles fired from Yemen against Israel — the first-recorded combat Arrow 3 exo-atmospheric kills. Through 2024 Arrow batteries intercepted >50 Iranian + Iranian-proxy ballistic missiles during the multi-day October 2024 + April 2024 Iranian attacks on Israel on Israel. The Arrow is the most-tested + most-engaged ABM shield worldwide. Germany became the first export customer in 2023 (Arrow 3 sale, ~$3.5 billion).

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Arrow is an Israeli-American long-range anti-rocket missile system. The Hebrew name Hetz means Arrow. The first Arrow entered Israeli service in 2000. The newer Arrow 3 followed in 2017. About 400 Arrow missiles have been built.

The Arrow 3 is a 2-stage solid-fuel anti-rocket missile. Top speed is Mach 9, much faster than a rifle bullet. The Arrow 3 can reach targets 1,500 miles away at 60 miles altitude, just outside Earth's atmosphere. The missile has no explosive: it simply hits the enemy rocket at very high speed, called hit-to-kill.

The Arrow is built to stop long-range rockets aimed at Israel. Iran, Iraq, and Yemen have all fired such rockets at Israel. Israel works with America to build and pay for Arrow. America funds about half the cost.

Arrow first stopped a Syrian missile in March 2017. Since October 2023, the Arrow system has stopped many rockets fired from Yemen by the Houthi forces. The Arrow can also stop the longest-range rockets, called ICBMs. This makes Arrow one of the few systems in the world that can defend against the most-powerful rockets.

Fun Facts

  • The Arrow is an Israeli-American long-range anti-rocket missile system.
  • Hetz means Arrow in Hebrew.
  • About 400 Arrow missiles have been built.
  • The Arrow 3 reaches Mach 9, much faster than a rifle bullet.
  • Arrow 3 can hit targets 60 miles up, outside Earth's atmosphere.
  • Arrow first stopped a Syrian missile in March 2017.
  • Arrow can stop the longest-range rockets in the world.

Kids’ Questions

What does hit-to-kill mean?

Most missiles explode near the target to damage it. The Arrow 3 has no explosive; it simply slams into the enemy rocket at very high speed. The impact at Mach 9 plus the enemy rocket's own speed is enough to destroy both. This is called hit-to-kill or kinetic-energy kill. It is very precise but very hard to do.

Why work with America?

The Arrow is a joint Israeli-American project, with each side paying about half. America benefits because Arrow technology may protect American allies (and one day American cities). Israel benefits because building Arrow alone would cost too much. Israel works similarly with America on other defense projects.

What is exo-atmospheric?

Exo-atmospheric means outside Earth's atmosphere, where there is no air. The Arrow 3 reaches 60 miles up, just above the air. At that altitude, hostile rockets fly faster and the atmosphere has not slowed them down yet. Stopping rockets up there gives the most time before they could hit Israel. Only a few countries can do exo-atmospheric stops.

Variants

Arrow 1 (1995)
Test-only variant. 5 launches.
Arrow 2 (2000-present)
Atmospheric interceptor. 60 km altitude.
Arrow 3 (2017-present)
Exo-atmospheric. Hit-to-kill. ICBM-capable.

Notable Operators

Israeli Air Force (2000-present)
Principal operator. Multiple combat intercepts since 2017.
German Luftwaffe (2025-present)
First export. Arrow 3 sale 2023, delivery 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Arrow 3 kill incoming missiles?

The Arrow 3 uses pure kinetic-energy hit-to-kill — no explosive warhead. The interceptor's kill vehicle (the 'hit-to-kill' upper stage) carries a 4-axis cold-gas thruster for terminal guidance + a passive imaging IR seeker. After the Green Pine radar provides midcourse guidance, the kill vehicle separates from the booster + manoeuvres outside the atmosphere to physically collide with the incoming warhead at closing speeds of ~3-4 km/s. The kinetic energy of the collision (E = ½mv²) is enough to destroy the warhead, including nuclear, biological, or chemical payloads. The exo-atmospheric kill ensures any chemical or biological payload disperses in space rather than over Israeli territory.

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See Also