Israel to Deploy Arrow 4 Air Defense System in 2026 After Iran Threats.

Israel Aerospace Industries CEO Boaz Levy said on February 17, 2026, that the Arrow 4 interceptor could enter operational service within months, following key development milestones. The deployment would strengthen Israel’s upper-tier missile defense at a time of heightened concern over Iranian ballistic missile threats and regional escalation.

Israel Aerospace Industries is preparing to bring the Arrow 4 interceptor into operational service within the coming months, according to CEO Boaz Levy, who spoke at a defense conference in Tel Aviv on February 17, 2026, as first reported by The Jerusalem Post. Levy linked the program’s progress to Israel’s preparation for future high-intensity conflict, citing the ballistic missile exchanges with Iran in 2024 and 2025 as a catalyst for accelerating advanced air defense capabilities. His remarks indicate that major development benchmarks have been achieved and that integration with the Israel Defense Forces air defense command network is moving toward field readiness, positioning Arrow 4 as the next layer in Israel’s multi-tiered missile shield alongside Arrow 2 and Arrow 3.
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The Arrow 4 is intended to counter advanced ballistic missile threats, including maneuvering reentry vehicles and potentially certain hypersonic glide vehicles (Picture source: IAI)

The Arrow 4 forms part of the broader Arrow weapon system, developed jointly by Israel Aerospace Industries and the United States Missile Defense Agency. It is designed to replace the Arrow 2 interceptor for endo-atmospheric engagements while complementing the Arrow 3, which conducts exo-atmospheric intercepts. This tiered configuration allows Israel to engage ballistic threats at multiple altitudes, thereby increasing engagement opportunities and improving overall interception reliability against complex salvos.

The Arrow 4 is intended to counter advanced ballistic missile threats, including maneuvering reentry vehicles and potentially certain hypersonic glide vehicles. While official performance parameters remain classified, the system operates within the Earth’s atmosphere, unlike Arrow 3, and is expected to feature improved kinematic performance and a more advanced seeker. The Arrow family relies on a two stage interceptor architecture and a hit to kill mechanism, designed to neutralize incoming warheads through direct impact rather than fragmentation. Engagements are coordinated through the Citron Tree battle management center and supported by the EL/M-2080 Green Pine radar, an L-band early-warning and fire-control radar capable of detecting ballistic launches at ranges reportedly exceeding 500 kilometers, depending on target profile.

Arrow 3, already operational and exported to Germany, intercepts ballistic missiles in space at altitudes above 100 kilometers, allowing debris to fall outside national territory. By contrast, Arrow 2 and Arrow 4 operate within the upper atmosphere, providing a final defensive layer should exo-atmospheric interception fail or prove unfeasible. Levy indicated that the new interceptor will enhance the probability of kill against evolving threats, particularly those designed to evade traditional tracking and interception envelopes.

Development of Arrow 4 was first publicly announced in 2021, yet no firm deployment date had been disclosed. The acceleration of timelines now hinted at by Levy reflects both operational necessity and accumulated experience. During the 12 day conflict with Iran, the Israel Defense Forces reportedly expended dozens of interceptors to counter ballistic missile barrages. That episode underscored the importance of interceptor stockpiles, production capacity, and layered redundancy. Levy stated that Israel Aerospace Industries is delivering the quantities required by the Israeli Air Force and, concurrently, to the German Air Force under Berlin’s Arrow 3 procurement program.

Germany has already committed to acquiring Arrow 3 as part of its European Sky Shield Initiative, and senior German officers signaled in late 2025 their intention to consider future Arrow 4 and Arrow 5 systems once available. Such interest reflects a broader European reassessment of missile defense requirements amid the proliferation of longer range and maneuverable missile systems across Eurasia.

Arrow 4 strengthens Israel’s ability to absorb and defeat saturation attacks combining ballistic missiles with varying trajectories and speeds. Its endo atmospheric engagement envelope provides flexibility against targets that evade or survive earlier interception attempts. Integration within Israel’s multilayered network, which includes David’s Sling and Iron Dome systems, allows command authorities to allocate interceptors according to threat type and trajectory, preserving higher tier assets for longer range or more destructive payloads. This architecture also mitigates the risk posed by hypersonic or quasi ballistic systems that may maneuver unpredictably during terminal phases, compressing decision timelines and stressing radar discrimination.

The system’s deployment occurs within a shifting strategic landscape. Iran continues to expand its ballistic missile inventory, and regional actors are investing in more agile delivery systems capable of challenging existing defenses. At the same time, Russia and China pursue hypersonic technologies that alter traditional assumptions about missile warning and interception windows. By fielding Arrow 4, Israel signals its determination to maintain qualitative superiority in missile defense and to adapt to these emerging vectors.

The maturation of Arrow 4 carries implications beyond Israel’s borders. European states observing the performance of Israeli systems during recent conflicts may weigh deeper cooperation, particularly as NATO members confront renewed missile threats. The integration of advanced interceptors into allied architectures could reshape deterrence dynamics, reinforcing defensive shields while also prompting adversaries to refine offensive capabilities. In this environment, missile defense is no longer a peripheral insurance policy but a central component of national resilience and alliance strategy, and Arrow 4 is poised to become one of its most closely watched elements.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.