Arrow 3 Interceptor System Proved Its Worth Against Iranian Attack

Boaz Levi, former head of the Arrow program, described the system's successful defense against a large-scale Iranian missile attack as a moment of immense pride and validation. Levi admitted he was surprised by the sheer volume of missiles launched, estimating Iran would only fire ten to twenty, not the over 100 ballistic missiles that were ultimately deployed. He explained that the Arrow system was designed from its inception to handle barrages of this magnitude, a capability he was confident in due to his extensive involvement in its development.

Recounting the event, Levi described watching the intercepts unfold on screens in command centers as akin to a science fiction movie, with incoming missiles being detected and destroyed repeatedly. He recalled stepping outside to witness the fiery explosions in the sky, confirming that the system was performing exactly as planned. Levi credited the young air defense soldiers for their exceptional performance, noting that even the developers did not anticipate an interception rate exceeding 90% of the incoming threats.

Levi asserted that the Arrow system, particularly the Arrow 3, is arguably the best interceptor missile in the world, attributing its superiority to a combination of its physical design and sophisticated Israeli algorithms. He highlighted that Israel's advantage stems not just from academic knowledge but also from the practical, combat-tested experience of its engineers and military personnel, enabling them to anticipate and counter a wider range of threats.

He also confirmed the recent successful test of the Arrow system, which involved full cooperation with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. Levi elaborated on the evolution of the Arrow program, from Arrow 2 designed for shorter-range missiles to Arrow 3 for longer-range threats like Iran's Shihab missiles, and mentioned the ongoing development of Arrow 4 and 5 to create a comprehensive, multi-layered defense. Levi addressed emerging threats like hypersonic and maneuvering missiles, stating that Israel is already preparing solutions for these challenges, emphasizing the continuous race to stay ahead of evolving enemy capabilities.

Concluding, Levi stressed that while advanced defense systems are costly, their expense must be weighed against the potential devastation prevented by intercepting ballistic missiles. He pointed to past incidents of missile impacts as evidence of the critical importance of such defenses, noting that precise, long-range interceptions are inherently expensive but necessary.