Israel to Provide $1.2B Air Defense Systems to Unnamed Partner, Sparking Rumors on Morocco's Military Arms Race Against Countries in the Region

The Israeli Defense Ministry has secured a $1.2 billion deal to provide air defense systems to an undisclosed country as announced by IAI, the primary contractor for the transaction, on Thursday. Despite inquiries from Defense News, both the ministry and Israel Aerospace Industries declined to reveal the specific system and the identity of the customer involved in the agreement. However, the company emphasized that it is an "air defense system with advanced technological capabilities, which has been operationally proven."

Speculation in Israeli media points to the Barak air defense systems as a likely candidate. The Barak MR variant boasts a range of 35 kilometers (22 miles), while the Barak ER can reach up to 150 kilometers (93 miles). Designed to intercept aircraft, medium-range ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles, Barak missiles have already found customers in Morocco, Colombia, and India, with the latter participating in the development phase of the Barak 8 variant.

According to Pentagon documents leaked earlier this year, Morocco has reportedly acquired a shipment of the Israeli Barak MX defense system. The delivery process commenced in mid-2023, as reported by FAR Maroc, a forum dedicated to covering the activities of the Moroccan army. If the Barak ER deal is confirmed, Morocco stands to gain the capability to intercept missiles, aircraft, and UAVs within a range of 35 kilometers. Additionally, with the potential Barak ER deal, this interception range could extend up to 150 kilometers.

Morocco has previously sought and received Israeli assistance in various defense domains. In 2021, the country procured Israel's Skylock Dome anti-drone system, specifically designed to identify and counter unmanned aerial threats. Furthermore, Morocco has added to its arsenal by acquiring IAI Bluebird and Heron drones.

Israel Aerospace Industries also offers a range of other air and missile defense systems, including Arrow 2, Arrow 3, Sky Capture, and Eagle Eye III VSHORAD. This recent contract marks one of the largest deals in IAI's history and the third-largest for an Israeli air defense system. It follows the $3.5 billion sale of the Arrow 3 to Germany in August and the $1.8 billion Barak 8 sale to India.

NEWS 2022 March, 28

Germany Looks To Acquire Arrow 3 Missile Defense System From Israel Amid Increasing Threats From Russia

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Eberhard Zorn have discussed possibilities to acquire the Arrow 3 missile defense system from Israel.

Arrow 3 would cost Germany 2 billion euros and the anti-ballistic missile system would enter into service in 2025. The defense system could cover Poland, Romania and the Baltics.

There has been no final decision on Arrow 3 yet.

eurasiantimes

Israel's Arrow 3 missile shield fails interception test

Israel's upgraded ballistic missile shield failed its first live interception test on Tuesday.
Operators of the Arrow 3 battery at Palmahim air base on the Mediterranean coast canceled the launch of its interceptor missile after it failed to lock on to a target missile fired over the sea.
Arrow is among several elements of an integrated Israeli aerial shield built up to withstand potential future missile and rocket attacks by Iran, Syria or their guerrilla allies in Lebanon and Gaza.
Arrow 3 interceptors are designed to fly above the earth's atmosphere, where their warheads detach to become kamikaze satellites, or "kill vehicles", that track and slam into the targets. Such high-altitude shoot-downs are meant to safely destroy incoming nuclear, biological or chemical missiles.
Arrow is jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and U.S. firm Boeing Co. Its earlier version, Arrow 2, was deployed more than a decade ago and officials put its success rate in trials at around 90 percent.
reuters

IAI begins Arrow 3 production

The new Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile system is a demonstration of Israeli defense industries' prowess. In a world still thrilled with the impressive interception capabilities of Iron Dome, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) and the Ministry of Defense are trying to do the same thing, but completely differently: to intercept ballistic missiles long before they enter Israeli airspace by neutralizing them in outer space.
20 years ago, Israel unveiled its technological capabilities in response to the missile threat against the home front, making it a global pioneer in missile defense. In 2000, the Arrow system was declared operational, and it seems that as the missile threat expands and grows stronger.
The latest test of the Arrow 3 was successfully completed in early January, giving the green light to complete the system which will add the upper layer to Israel's missile defense. For a decade, the IDF and IAI have been developing the Arrow 3, with generous financial aid from the US.
The IDF campaigned against steep cuts in the defense budget, which included several attempts to add the Arrow to the long list of strategically critical projects that were delayed or frozen for years. A few weeks ago, the IDF proved once again that the best spin is only that: the Arrow program has continued on schedule, with no slowdowns, no cuts, and a lot of determination.
A critical test of the new missile will be carried out in a few weeks. In this test, for the first time, the missile's operators will have to intercept a target missile that will simulate an incoming Iranian Shahab ballistic missile.
Although so far the Arrow 3 has only succeeded in intercepting threats to its R&D funding, the Ministry of Defense and IAI engineers are so convinced that the missile will work that they have decided not to waste precious time and to begin production.
Few interception tests are planned anyway, and if the tests that will be carried out indicate a gap between planned and actual performance, minor software updates should be able to correct them. An announcement that the Arrow 3 is operational is due is 2015.
The Arrow 3 is an evolutionary development of the Arrow 2. The next generation of the Arrow was developed with an eye to the latest threats in the missile arena: the program planner's guiding principle was that if Israel were to face nuclear-tipped missiles, it was best to intercept them as far away as possible. In addition to the environmental importance of intercepting unconventionally armed missiles above the atmosphere, the Arrow 3 gives the ground crew the time needed to fire an interceptor against an incoming missile and to fire a second interceptor if the first one misses.
Under these circumstances, the Arrow 2 will be the second interceptor. Batteries are already deployed at Ein Shemer and Palmachim.
globes.co.il

Israel plans laser interceptor 'Iron Beam' for short-range rockets

Israel plans to deploy a new missile shield known as "Iron Beam" next year which would use a laser to blow up short-range rockets and mortar bombs.
The system is designed to deal with threats that fly on too small a trajectory to be engaged efficiently by Iron Dome, the Israeli interceptor credited with an 80 percent success rate against rockets fired by Palestinian militants.
Both shields are manufactured by state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. While Iron Dome launches radar-guided interceptor rockets, Iron Beam's laser will super-heat the warheads of shells with ranges of up to 7 km (4.5 miles).
Iron Dome is complemented by Arrow II, an Israeli interceptor designed to shoot down ballistic missiles at atmospheric heights. Israel plans to integrate them with the more powerful rocket interceptors Arrow III and David's Sling, both of which are still in their testing phases.
The United States has extensively underwritten the projects, seeing them as a means of reassuring its Middle East ally as instability rocks the region.
reuters

US-Israel Arrow-3 Marks Milestone Test

The US-Israel Arrow-3 upper tier intercepting missile passed another developmental milestone with a successful exo-atmospheric maneuvering flight after launch over the Mediterranean Sea on Friday.
The Arrow-3 was successfully launched and flew an exo-atmospheric trajectory through space, according to the test plan.
The fly-out of the two-stage, hit-to-kill missile marked the second in a series of developmental milestones aimed at readying the system for a full-up intercept test in early 2015. It follows a successful maiden flight in February 2013.
Planned for initial fielding in 2015-16, Arrow-3 is designed as Israel’s first line of defense against emerging threats from Iran. Supported by the same fire control radar and battle management systems developed for Israel’s operational Arrow-2, the smaller and much more agile Arrow-3 aims to destroy advanced, maneuvering, unconventionally tipped Shahab-class missiles in space before they re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.
Israel’s planned upper tier layer of Arrow-3 active defense will be buttressed by the Arrow-2, which both countries continue to upgrade for intercepting missions high within Earth’s atmosphere.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is prime contractor for both Arrow missiles, with significant content produced in the United States by Boeing. IAI also provides the Super Green Pine fire control radar, while Elbit’s Tadiran provides the system’s battle management control center.
defensenews

US-Israel David's Sling Aces 2nd Intercept Test

The US-Israel David’s Sling Weapon System (DSWS) scored a “major milestone” Wednesday with a successful intercept of a short-range ballistic missile target at a test range in southern Israel.
Wednesday’s intercept marks the second test success since the beginning of the year, and aims to ready the system for initial deployment in 2014.
Jointly funded by the US and Israel, David’s Sling is designed to defend against long-range rockets and short-range missiles. Later block versions will extend performance to defend against cruise missiles and other air-breathing targets.
Developed by Israel’s state-owned Rafael Ltd. in conjunction with its US partner Raytheon Co., DSWS will provide an additional layer to Israel’s multi-layer active defense intercepting network. When deployed, it will serve as a bridge between the operationally proven lower-tier Iron Dome and the operational Arrow-2 and planned Upper Tier Arrow-3.
Supporting the DSWS is the Multi-Mission Radar by Elta, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, and the Golden Almond battle management and control system developed by Elisra-Elbit Systems.
defensenews

Israel could field Arrow 3 missile shield earlier than planned

Analysis of the Arrow 3 ballistic missile test performed early this year suggests that Israel will be able to shorten the time required to achieve operational status with the system.
During a flight conducted on 25 February by Israel's Missile Defense Organization and the US Missile Defense Agency, an Arrow 3 interceptor performed an exo-atmospheric trajectory through space, in accordance with the test plan.
The Arrow 3 interceptor is designed to provide an additional level of defence against ballistic missiles
Lighter than the interceptor used in Israel's operational Arrow 2 system, the new round will intercept incoming missiles outside the atmosphere.
According to its manufacturer, the new system features improved detection, discrimination and fire control capabilities, which will permit two and possibly three chances to kill each incoming weapon. The Arrow 3 architecture will have a very high probability of intercepting any suspected nuclear missile, and be able to also engage salvos of longer-range ballistic missiles equipped with countermeasures.
An air launch of two Rafael Silver Sparrow target missiles from an Israeli air force Boeing F-15 on 9 September was also connected to the accelerated development of the Arrow 3 system.
flightglobal

Israeli David's Sling anti-missile system unveiled in Paris

David's Sling, designed to protect Israel from midrange missiles, is expected to be operational within two years • It will become part of Israel's multilayered missile defense network, which also includes the Iron Dome and Arrow systems.
israelhayom

Israel approved document that revealed details of missile base

U.S. officials deny that they inadvertently revealed secret details about a proposed Israeli missile base when they put the $25 million project up for bid.
Department of Defense officials said Israeli officials had reviewed in advance and approved the 1,000 pages of specifications for the Arrow 3 anti-missile defense system base that were posted on a U.S. government website for contractors. The United States is paying for construction of the base. It routinely posts details of such projects so that contractors may estimate the cost of building them.
“We have a long-standing relationship with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and we advertised the project in accordance with U.S. laws and regulations,” Brian Temple, the public affairs chief for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District – the branch of the U.S. government that worked out the arrangement with the Israeli government – said in an email.
He said Israel’s Ministry of Defense was responsible for determining how secret any project was and that “they determine whether they will be procured using classified or unclassified procedures.”
“It was determined by the Israeli Ministry of Defense to be an unclassified project,” he said.
miamiherald

U.S. publishes details of missile base Israel wanted kept secret

Israel’s military fumed Monday over the discovery that the U.S. government had revealed details of a top-secret Israeli military installation in published bid requests.
The Obama administration had promised to build Israel a state-of-the-art facility to house a new ballistic-missile defense system, the Arrow 3. As with all Defense Department projects, detailed specifications were made public so that contractors could bid on the $25 million project. The specifications included more than 1,000 pages of details on the facility, ranging from the heating and cooling systems to the thickness of the walls.
kansascity

Israel Missile Arrow 3 Tested Successfully

The Ministry of Defense's Homa Administration successfully carried out a successful flight test Monday of the Arrow 3 (in Hebrew: Hetz 3) anti-missile missile, in conjunction with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
The Defense Ministry said that the test was intended to check the flight systems of the missile, which is meant to provide added high-altitude protection against missiles and to solidify the defensive array protecting Israel from the long range missile threat.
The Arrow 3 will be able to intercept ballistic missiles with longer ranges than the ones that Arrow 2 can bring down, and it will do so at higher altitudes. It is part of the multi-layer defense system that is intended to protect the state of Israel, which also includes the Iron Dome system and the Magic Wand system.
Iron Dome, which is already operational and functioned very well during Operation Pillar of Defense, deals primarily with short range missiles. Magic Wand will deal with the medium-range threat.
Development of the Arrow 3 is expected to take two more years, whereas Magic Wand is due to become operational in 2014.
israelnationalnews

Israel postpones Arrow-3 flight test

The crucial first test-firing of Israel's Arrow-3 interceptor missile, designed to destroy ballistic weapons, reportedly has been postponed despite efforts to boost the Jewish state's missile defenses amid threats of pre-emptive strikes.

learn more

Arrow 3 Test Postponed due to Unknown Problem

The next trial of the Arrow 3, Israel's main future anti-missile defense weapons system, has been postponed for an unexplained reason, according to a report in the US weekly Space News quoted by Globes.

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Isreal to test Arrow 3 for first time

After year's delay, Arrow 3 to be tested soon

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Israel probará el misil Arrow-3 a mediados de 2011/ Israel to test Arrow-3 interceptor by mid-2011

El nuevo misil antimisiles balísiticos de Israel, el Arrow-3, realizará su primera prueba a mediados de 2011.
Israel Aerospace Industries, está realizando pruebas en tierra. Se espera que el Arrow-3, interceptará sus objetivos mediante energia cinética, en lugar de detectarlos por proximidad, como los actuales Arrow-2.
flightglobal
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The first fly out of Israel's new Arrow-3 anti-ballistic missile interceptor will be performed by mid-2011.
Israel Aerospace Industries, which is developing the Arrow-3, is currently performing ground testing of the new missile, which will intercept incoming ballistic missiles using kinetic kill instead of proximity warhead detonation as with the operational Arrow-2.
flightglobal

Tercera batería de misiles antiaéros Arrow para Israel/ Israeli Air Force getting a third Arrow battery

La Fuerza Aérea Israelí, va a añadir proximamente la tercera batería de misiles Arrow a su inventario. Se espera que sea capaz de batir los objetivos mas difíciles, utilizando el nuevo radar Oren Adir.
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The Israeli Air Force is expecting to add a third Arrow battery to its arsenal. This battery is expected to get the newest interceptor and will employ the new Oren Adir radar
(read more)