Israel, US successfully test anti-missile system
Daily News Article — Posted on February 26, 2013
(by Ian Deitch at MYFOXDC) JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel and the U.S. on Monday carried out a successful test of the next-generation Arrow 3 missile defense system, for the first time sending an interceptor into outer space, where it could destroy missiles fired from Iran.
The Arrow 3 is part of a multilayered system that Israel is developing to protect against a range of missile threats, from short-range rockets [fired from] the Gaza Strip and Lebanon to medium and longer-range missiles [targeting Israel from] Syria and Iran. The Arrow system is being developed to protect against sophisticated Iranian-made Shahab ballistic missiles.
A diagram by the US Missile Defense Agency depicting missile interception by the Arrow system.
Israel’s Defense Ministry said it was the first flight test of the Arrow 3 interceptor. It was conducted at an Israeli test range over the Mediterranean Sea. The system is about three years away from becoming operational.
“The Arrow 3 interceptor was successfully launched and flew an exo-atmospheric [just outside the earth’s atmosphere] trajectory through space, in accordance with the test plan,” it said in a statement. “The successful test is a major milestone in the development of the Arrow 3 weapon system and provides further confidence in future Israeli defense capabilities to defeat the developing ballistic missile threat [from Iran].”
Iran’s Shahab ballistic missile can carry a nuclear warhead and has a range of 1,250 miles, putting Israel and parts of Europe within range. With Iran suspected by the international community of trying to develop a nuclear weapon, the success of the Arrow is considered critical for Israel.
Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran to be an existential [real] threat, citing Iranian calls for Israel’s destruction, its support for anti-Israel militant groups and its missile and nuclear technology. Tehran says its nuclear program is peaceful, a claim that Israel and many Western countries reject.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the test shows Israel’s technological capabilities as well as its close cooperation with the U.S. “Israel’s hand is always extended for peace, but we are always prepared for other options as well,” Netanyahu said after a meeting with Mideast envoy Tony Blair Monday afternoon.
A senior Defense Ministry official said the test was conducted “100 percent successfully.”
“This is the first time the interceptor with all of its equipment took off and flew, achieved its velocity and did the maneuver in space,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity under ministry regulations. “The Iranian missiles are a main factor to why this system was developed,” he said, but he stressed that the test was not connected to a specific regional development.
The Arrow 3 is being developed by Israeli state-run Israel Aerospace Industries in conjunction with U.S. aviation giant Boeing Co.
The Arrow 3, expected to be operational around 2016, would give Israel an additional layer of defense by targeting incoming missiles far closer to their time of launch. The Arrow 2 system, which intercepts targets inside the atmosphere, is already operational.
Last year, Israel also successfully tested a system designed to intercept missiles with ranges of up to 180 miles. That system, called “David’s Sling” and “Magic Wand,” is expected to be operational next year.
Israel has also developed a system for intercepting short-range rockets. The “Iron Dome” successfully shot down hundreds of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip during eight days of fighting in November.
From the Associated Press. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission from MYFoxDC. Visit the website at myfoxdc.com.
Questions
1. Define the following words as used in the article:
- trajectory
- interceptor
- missile defense system
- ballistic missile
2. What is the Arrow 3?
3. Why is the Arrow 3 crucial to Israel's defense? Be specific.
4. When is the Arrow 3 expected to become fully operational?
5. a) What is the name of Israel's first successful (short-range) missile interceptor?
b) How was/is it used?
6. Pro-active is defined as: acting in advance to deal with an expected difficulty; anticipatory (e.g. proactive steps to prevent terrorism) OR: serving to prepare for, intervene in, or control an expected occurrence or situation, especially a negative or difficult one; anticipatory (e.g. proactive measures against crime)
What do you think of Israel's pro-active missile defense program? (good planning, crucial to its survival, antagonistic, unnecessary, etc.?) Explain your answer.
Background
BALLISTIC MISSILE and DEFENSE:
A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads (often nuclear) to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the laws of orbital mechanics and ballistics. To date, ballistic missiles have been propelled during powered flight by chemical rocket engines of various types. (from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_missile)
- National missile defense (NMD) as a generic term is a type of missile defense: a military strategy and associated systems to shield an entire country against incoming Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) or alternately more short-range ballistic missiles. The missiles could be intercepted by anti-ballistic missiles, or possibly by lasers. They could be intercepted near the launch point (boost phase), during flight through space (mid-course phase), or during atmospheric descent (terminal phase).
- Missile defense is a system, weapon, or technology involved in the detection, tracking, interception and destruction of attacking missiles. Originally conceived as a defense against nuclear-armed ICBMs, its application has broadened to include shorter-ranged non-nuclear tactical and theater missiles.
- an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles (a missile for missile defense; an interceptor). A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term “anti-ballistic missile” describes any antimissile system designed to counter ballistic missiles. However the term is used more commonly for ABM systems designed to counter long range, nuclear-armed Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). (from wikipedia)