Advanced Arrow-2 Intercepts Shihab III Surrogate Target over the Pacific Ocean

Arrow-2 ASIP ballistic missile interceptor launched from Pt. Mugu, February 22, 2011

February 22, 2011 by Tamir Eshel DEFENSE UPDATE

The joint U.S.-Israel Arrow Weapon System successfully intercepted a ballistic target missile today, during a flight test conducted over the Pacific Ocean. The test was part of the Arrow System Improvement Program (ASIP), conducted jointly by the Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. The missile was launcehd from the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division-Pt. Mugu Sea Range, at 10:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). The target missile was launched from a Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) off the coast of California, within the Pt. Mugu test range. According to the joint MDA/MOD announcement, the target was representative of potential ballistic missile threats facing Israel. A previous test scheduled for July 22, 2009 was aborted after the system failed to develop an intercept solutyion within the launch ‘window’ provided by the test range. The 2009 target was representing an Iranian long range missile with payload capacity conforming to a missile carrying a nuclear warhead. A similar target is believed to have been used on today’s test as well.