Israel is set to carry its first missile test outside of Israeli territory with a joint test of its Arrow 3 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) defense system in Alaska next year.
Constraints about launches over the Mediterranean and the fallout of shrapnel have been cited as reasons behind the decision.
The exercise, in cooperation with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), will use the Alaskan Aerospace site on the island of Kodiak. The system will be tested against targets simulating the advanced ballistic missiles currently being developed by Iran.
The perceived missile threat from Iran has seen the USA and Israel working to develop several missile defense systems, including the Arrow 3, which was co-managed by the US Missile Defense Agency and a division of the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
Considered one of the world’s best interceptors due to its breakthrough technological capabilities, the Arrow 3 is a highly maneuverable system designed to provide ultimate air defense by intercepting ballistic missiles when they are still outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
MDA director US Navy Vice Admiral James Syring was quoted in various media as telling a congressional meeting last week that the, “[Arrow 3] has significant range constraints within the Mediterranean. One of the better places to test is in Alaska, from Kodiak, and we intend to do that next year.” But according to Craig Campbell, Alaska Aerospace Corp CEO, the deal to carry out the test has not yet been finalized.
June 14, 2017
