A test o the interception capability of the Arrow 3 system was cancelled at the last-minute early Monday morning, Israel’s Channel 2 News reported.
A project of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing, overseen by the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Homa administration and the US Missile Defense Agency, the Arrow 3 provides exo-atmospheric interception of ballistic missiles—during the space-flight portion of their trajectory, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) carrying nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads. With divert motor capability, the Arrow 3 kill vehicle can switch directions dramatically, allowing it to pivot to see approaching satellites. The missile has a reported flight range of 1,500 miles.
The test was planned for Monday morning, but it was decided to stop it after the target missile that had been fired did not meet the safety conditions of the experiment.
The test was planned as part of the multi-layered defense system test program: the Arrow 3 constitutes a layer of supreme defense for the State of Israel.
The test engineers declared it a “no test,” but the Defense Ministry noted that the test data “is collected at these hours and analyzed by the experimental engineers.”
Monday’s test was designed to challenge the Arrow 3 system’s ability to deal with futuristic missiles developed by Iran. Those missiles, with increased accuracy and range, are also expected to have warheads that will split while up above the atmosphere.