Defense officials confirm the next generation of air defense will tackle hypersonic threats and decoy warheads.
The Israeli defense establishment and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have significantly accelerated the development of its next-generation missile defense systems, with the Arrow 4 now in advanced stages and the Arrow 5 currently in research and development. These systems are designed to counter the evolving threat from Iran, including targeting hypersonic missiles and decoy warheads.
Brig. Gen. (ret.) Daniel Gold, head of Defense Research and Development at the Israeli Defense Ministry, provided a detailed update on the strategic projects in recent days. Gold confirmed that the Arrow 4 is undergoing “massive development” and is scheduled for its first test flight in the coming months “Arrow 4 is designed to replace Arrow 2,” Gold stated, noting that the older system was originally based on missile threats with ranges of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometers.
While specific altitudes of Arrow 4 remain classified, the new interceptor represents a leap in capability, intended to address the next generation of ballistic threats. Simultaneously, the defense establishment is pushing forward with the Arrow 5. Gold revealed that this system is currently in the research and development phase, with full-scale development expected to commence soon. “Arrow 5 will operate alongside Arrow 3 in space,” Gold said. The Arrow 3 is currently Israel’s primary exo-atmospheric interceptor, designed for intercepting ballistic missiles in space. (Read More)
