US approves Israel's landmark $3.5 billion Arrow-3 missile system sale to Germany.

On August 17, 2023, the U.S. endorsed Israel's decision to market its Arrow-3 missile defense mechanism to Germany. This transaction, valued at $3.5 billion, is hailed as Israel's paramount defense deal, as acknowledged by the Israeli Defence Ministry.
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Arrow 3 anti-ballistic air defense missile systems (Picture source: Israel Aerospace Industries IAI )

Both countries are on the brink of sealing their agreement with a Letter of Commitment, bolstered by an upfront payment of $600 million. The comprehensive agreement is projected to be sealed by this year's end. Recent geopolitical tensions, notably Russia's involvement in Ukraine, underscored the imperative for sophisticated terrestrial air defense mechanisms in numerous Western nations. While systems like Raytheon's Patriot and the contemporary IRIS-T cater to mid-altitude defense, the Arrow-3 addresses the upper-altitude defense void.

The Arrow-3 initiative is a collaborative endeavor between Israel and the U.S., crafted and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing. The Israeli Ministry of Defense's "Homa" division, in conjunction with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, supervises this project.

The Arrow-3's primary function is to intercept ballistic missiles during their space-bound phase. This encompasses its ability to thwart intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) laden with nuclear, chemical, biological, or traditional warheads. A distinctive feature of the missile is its divert motor, enabling rapid directional shifts, with potential satellite interception capabilities.

Boasting a reach of up to 2,400 km, the Arrow-3 missile surpasses an altitude of 100 km, operating in the exoatmospheric domain. Classified as hypersonic in speed, its navigation is guided by an inertial system coupled with a gimbaled seeker. For direction, thrust vectoring is employed, and its launch is facilitated from fortified subterranean launch chambers.

The Arrow-3 has been subjected to numerous evaluations, with notable success in July 2019 at the Pacific Spaceport Complex, Kodiak, Alaska, where it intercepted three adversarial rockets, one beyond the atmospheric boundary.

In its design, the Arrow-3 incorporates a dual-stage interceptor, reminiscent of the Arrow-2, but exclusively relies on direct impact technology. Contrary to conventional kill vehicles using liquid or gas propulsion, the Arrow 3's interceptor is powered by a standard rocket motor with a thrust-vectoring nozzle, deemed as straightforward, dependable, and economically viable.

Germany envisions its aerial military forces to be equipped with the Arrow-3 mechanism by the closing quarter of 2025. Concurrently, reports from Israel's Army Radio suggest that the formal Arrow-3 sales agreement with Germany is anticipated in November.