The Ministerial Committee for Procurement has approved the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) plan for a “major additional acceleration” of the production of ARROW interceptor missiles, developed and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
The new deal is meant to “significantly” increase both the production rate and, eventually, the held stockpile of ARROW missiles. Israel’s defense industries are already ramping up production under IMOD directives, and the Committee’s approval clears the way for further expansion.
The ARROW system, jointly developed and produced with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), intercepts ballistic threats at exo-atmospheric and upper-atmospheric altitudes, defending Israel against long-range strategic threats. It is probably the most proven and successful anti-ballistic missile defense system in the world overall, but the number of interceptors has been a concern in the war against Iran with reports that limitations have had to be put on when to employ the system in order not to run out of missiles.
The acceleration plan is led by the Director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) within the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), Moshe Patel, together with the Budget Department and additional IMOD departments. IAI is the prime developer of ARROW, in partnership with STARK Aerospace in the United States. IAI’s ELTA Division and TMM Division, Elbit Systems, Tomer, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems all participate in the system’s production.
The US MDA is a key partner for Israel in developing and producing a multi-layered air and missile defense array that includes the ARROW, DAVID’s SLING and IRON DOME systems. The US also provide financial support yearly. According to Israel’s defense minister, the acceleration is “already driving a significant increase in monthly output”. He has denied shortages and assures that the production acceleration is meant to ensure continued freedom of action in the long term.
ARROW is the upper layer of Israel’s shield and has also become an unprecedented export success for Israel with Germany’s purchase of the ARROW 3 system. In the past year, ARROW 3 production at IAI is claimed to have tripled, partly exactly because of the need to deliver to Germany against orders for approximately $6.5 billion.
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